Local adaptation of a fungal pathogen introduced into a soil community

ABSTRACT: Identifying the genetic basis for natural selection is a fundamental research goal, and particularly significant for soil fungi because of their central role in ecosystem functioning. Here, we identify rapid evolutionary processes in the plant root colonizing insect pathogen Metarhizium robertsii. While adapting to a new soil community, expression of TATA box containing cell wall and stress response genes evolved at an accelerated rate, whereas virulence determinants, transposons and chromosome structure were unaltered. The survival of diversified field isolates was increased, confirming that the mutations were adaptive, and we further show that large populations of Metarhizium are principally maintained by associations with plant roots rather than insect populations. These results provide a mechanistic basis for understanding mutational and selective effects on soil microbes.

ORGANISM(S): Metarhizium robertsii Metarhizium anisopliae

PROVIDER: GSE30175 | GEO | 2012/01/04

SECONDARY ACCESSION(S): PRJNA143935

REPOSITORIES: GEO