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Sexual Crosses with the Mucoromycete Phycomyces blakesleeanus
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Fungal Mating in the Most Widespread Plant Symbionts?

Nicolas Corradi1, Andreas Brachmann2

  • 1Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.

Trends in Plant Science
|November 24, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Recent findings reveal sexual reproduction in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), challenging previous beliefs about their genetics. This discovery opens new avenues for optimizing these plant symbionts for agriculture and environmental benefits.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Plant-Microbe Interactions
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are crucial plant symbionts.
  • AMF possess hundreds of nuclei with divergent genomes but were thought to lack sexual reproduction.
  • This lack of sexual reproduction limited strain optimization for agricultural applications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the historical context of AMF genetics.
  • To discuss how new evidence challenges established notions of AMF biology.
  • To explore mating-related processes and future research directions for AMF application.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and historical analysis of AMF genetics research.
  • Synthesis of recent findings on sexual reproduction in AMF.
  • Discussion of implications for agricultural and environmental practices.

Main Results:

  • Established understanding of AMF genetics is being revised.
  • Evidence suggests sexual-related nuclear inheritance occurs in AMF.
  • This challenges the long-held view of AMF asexual reproduction.

Conclusions:

  • AMF genetics are more complex than previously understood.
  • The potential for sexual reproduction in AMF offers new strategies for strain improvement.
  • Further research can enhance the application of AMF in agriculture and environmental management.

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