Mucoromycotina Fine Root Endophyte Fungi Form Nutritional Mutualisms with Vascular Plants.

ABSTRACT: Fungi and plants have engaged in intimate symbioses that are globally widespread and have driven terrestrial biogeochemical processes since plant terrestrialization >500 million years ago. Recently, hitherto unknown nutritional mutualisms involving ancient lineages of fungi and nonvascular plants have been discovered, although their extent and functional significance in vascular plants remain uncertain. Here, we provide evidence of carbon-for-nitrogen exchange between an early-diverging vascular plant (Lycopodiella inundata) and Mucoromycotina (Endogonales) fine root endophyte fungi. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the same fungal symbionts colonize neighboring nonvascular and flowering plants. These findings fundamentally change our understanding of the physiology, interrelationsh

SUBMITTER: Hoysted GA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6776871 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature