The Experts below are selected from a list of 360 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform

Martin I. Bidartondo - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • critical research challenges facing Mucoromycotina fine root endophytes
    New Phytologist, 2021
    Co-Authors: Besiana Sinanaj, Silvia Pressel, Martin I. Bidartondo, Grace A Hoysted, Katie J. Field
    Abstract:

    Mucoromycotina 'Fine Root Endophytes' (MFRE), referred to previously as Glomus tenue (Greenall) or more recently Planticonsortium tenue (Walker et al., 2018), are a globally distributed group of soil fungi (Orchard et al., 2017a) that form endosymbioses with plants from across most of the land plant phylogeny (Rimington et al., 2019; Hoysted et al., 2018; 2019). Despite much progress having been made in characterising plant-MFRE symbioses in the last decade, significant challenges remain.

  • Carbon for nutrient exchange between Lycopodiella inundata and Mucoromycotina fine root endophytes is unresponsive to high atmospheric CO_2
    Mycorrhiza, 2021
    Co-Authors: Grace A Hoysted, Jeffrey G. Duckett, Martin I. Bidartondo, Silvia Pressel, Jill Kowal, Katie J. Field
    Abstract:

    Non-vascular plants associating with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AMF) and Mucoromycotina ‘fine root endophyte’ (MFRE) fungi derive greater benefits from their fungal associates under higher atmospheric [CO_2] (a[CO_2]) than ambient; however, nothing is known about how changes in a[CO_2] affect MFRE function in vascular plants. We measured movement of phosphorus (P), nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) between the lycophyte Lycopodiella inundata and Mucoromycotina fine root endophyte fungi using ^33P-orthophosphate, ^15 N-ammonium chloride and ^14CO_2 isotope tracers under ambient and elevated a[CO_2] concentrations of 440 and 800 ppm, respectively. Transfers of ^33P and ^15 N from MFRE to plants were unaffected by changes in a[CO_2]. There was a slight increase in C transfer from plants to MFRE under elevated a[CO_2]. Our results demonstrate that the exchange of C-for-nutrients between a vascular plant and Mucoromycotina FRE is largely unaffected by changes in a[CO_2]. Unravelling the role of MFRE in host plant nutrition and potential C-for-N trade changes between symbionts under different abiotic conditions is imperative to further our understanding of the past, present and future roles of plant-fungal symbioses in ecosystems.

  • phenology and function in lycopod Mucoromycotina symbiosis
    New Phytologist, 2021
    Co-Authors: Grace A Hoysted, Jeffrey G. Duckett, Martin I. Bidartondo, Silvia Pressel, Katie J. Field
    Abstract:

    Lycopodiella inundata is a lycophyte with a complex life cycle. The gametophytes and the juvenile, mature and retreating sporophytes form associations with Mucoromycotina fine root endophyte (MFRE) fungi, being mycoheterotrophic as gametophytes and mutualistic as mature sporophytes. However, the function of the symbiosis across juvenile and retreating sporophyte life stages remains unknown. We measured carbon-for-nutrient exchanges between L. inundata and MFRE across the transition from newly emerging sporophytes to mature sporophytes and in retreating adult sporophytes. We show MFRE fungi play distinct functional roles at each plant life stage, with evidence of bidirectional exchange of plant C for fungal acquired nutrients (N and P) between mature adult and retreating adult sporophytes and fungi, but no transfer of plant C to fungi and little fungal-acquired nutrient gain in juvenile sporophytes. Furthermore, we show that these functional stages correspond with different cytologies of colonisation. Our results show that MFRE have considerable plasticity in their interactions with the host plant which is related to the developmental stage of the host. This highlights the need for further research into symbiotic fungal function across plant life histories.

  • molecular evidence of Mucoromycotina fine root endophyte fungi in agricultural crops
    Proceedings of The 1st International Electronic Conference on Plant Science, 2020
    Co-Authors: Besiana Sinanaj, Silvia Pressel, Martin I. Bidartondo, Katie J. Field
    Abstract:

    Over 85% of land plants engage in symbiotic relationships with mycorrhiza-forming soil fungi that colonise their roots. These associations, termed mycorrhizal symbioses, involve the exchange of fungal-acquired nutrients and water for photosynthetically fixed plant carbon. Mycorrhizal symbioses are thus considered a promising nature-based solution to making agricultural practices more sustainable, particularly by reducing the need for chemical fertiliser applications on soils while maintaining crop yields. In order to implement the widespread use of mycorrhizal fungi in agriculture, a complete awareness of their range of plant hosts is needed. Mucoromycotina Fine Root Endophytes (MFRE) are a group of mycorrhiza-forming fungi that, over the last decade, have been shown to be phylogenetically and functionally distinct from the common Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF). Fungal morphologies similar to those of MFRE have been described in early light microscopy studies on roots stained for mycorrhiza. However, owing to limitations in the tools used to identify fungal endophytes until now, these structures were routinely misidentified as belonging to AMF. As such, the true range of plant hosts colonised by MFRE remains unclear. Here, we provide the first molecular evidence of MFRE colonisation within the roots of winter wheat, winter barley, spring wheat and strawberries. Root samples were collected from an Oxfordshire farm (UK) and were analysed for fungal symbionts using a workflow involving PCR with the NS1/EF3 universal fungal primer set and molecular cloning. Partial DNA sequences of the 18S ribosomal RNA gene were obtained and were analysed using BLAST. Our findings shed light on the true distribution of plant-MFRE associations and give rise to new questions regarding their functional significance within agricultural plants.

  • carbon for nutrient exchange between the lycophyte lycopodiella inundata and Mucoromycotina fine root endophytes is unresponsive to high atmospheric co2 concentration
    bioRxiv, 2020
    Co-Authors: Grace A Hoysted, Jeffrey G. Duckett, Martin I. Bidartondo, Silvia Pressel, Jill Kowal, Katie J. Field
    Abstract:

    Background and AimsNon-vascular plants associating with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AMF) and Mucoromycotina fine root endophyte (MFRE) fungi derive greater benefits from their fungal associates under higher atmospheric [CO2] than ambient, however nothing is known about how changes in [CO2] affects MFRE function in vascular plants. MethodsWe measured movement of phosphorus (P), nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) between the lycophyte, Lycopodiella inundata and Mucoromycotina fine root endophyte fungi using 33P-orthophosphate, 15N-ammonium chloride and 14CO2 isotope tracers under ambient and elevated atmospheric [CO2] concentrations of 440 and 800 ppm, respectively. Key ResultsTransfer of 33P and 15N from MFRE to plant were unaffected by changes in [CO2]. There was a slight increase in C transfer from plant to MFRE under elevated [CO2]. ConclusionsOur results demonstrate that the exchange of C-for-nutrients between a vascular plant and Mucoromycotina FRE is largely unaffected by changes in atmospheric [CO2]. Unravelling the role of MFRE in host plant nutrition and potential C-for-N trade changes between symbionts under varying abiotic conditions is imperative to further our understanding of the past, present and future roles of diverse plant-fungal symbioses in global ecosystems.

Katie J. Field - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • critical research challenges facing Mucoromycotina fine root endophytes
    New Phytologist, 2021
    Co-Authors: Besiana Sinanaj, Silvia Pressel, Martin I. Bidartondo, Grace A Hoysted, Katie J. Field
    Abstract:

    Mucoromycotina 'Fine Root Endophytes' (MFRE), referred to previously as Glomus tenue (Greenall) or more recently Planticonsortium tenue (Walker et al., 2018), are a globally distributed group of soil fungi (Orchard et al., 2017a) that form endosymbioses with plants from across most of the land plant phylogeny (Rimington et al., 2019; Hoysted et al., 2018; 2019). Despite much progress having been made in characterising plant-MFRE symbioses in the last decade, significant challenges remain.

  • Carbon for nutrient exchange between Lycopodiella inundata and Mucoromycotina fine root endophytes is unresponsive to high atmospheric CO_2
    Mycorrhiza, 2021
    Co-Authors: Grace A Hoysted, Jeffrey G. Duckett, Martin I. Bidartondo, Silvia Pressel, Jill Kowal, Katie J. Field
    Abstract:

    Non-vascular plants associating with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AMF) and Mucoromycotina ‘fine root endophyte’ (MFRE) fungi derive greater benefits from their fungal associates under higher atmospheric [CO_2] (a[CO_2]) than ambient; however, nothing is known about how changes in a[CO_2] affect MFRE function in vascular plants. We measured movement of phosphorus (P), nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) between the lycophyte Lycopodiella inundata and Mucoromycotina fine root endophyte fungi using ^33P-orthophosphate, ^15 N-ammonium chloride and ^14CO_2 isotope tracers under ambient and elevated a[CO_2] concentrations of 440 and 800 ppm, respectively. Transfers of ^33P and ^15 N from MFRE to plants were unaffected by changes in a[CO_2]. There was a slight increase in C transfer from plants to MFRE under elevated a[CO_2]. Our results demonstrate that the exchange of C-for-nutrients between a vascular plant and Mucoromycotina FRE is largely unaffected by changes in a[CO_2]. Unravelling the role of MFRE in host plant nutrition and potential C-for-N trade changes between symbionts under different abiotic conditions is imperative to further our understanding of the past, present and future roles of plant-fungal symbioses in ecosystems.

  • phenology and function in lycopod Mucoromycotina symbiosis
    New Phytologist, 2021
    Co-Authors: Grace A Hoysted, Jeffrey G. Duckett, Martin I. Bidartondo, Silvia Pressel, Katie J. Field
    Abstract:

    Lycopodiella inundata is a lycophyte with a complex life cycle. The gametophytes and the juvenile, mature and retreating sporophytes form associations with Mucoromycotina fine root endophyte (MFRE) fungi, being mycoheterotrophic as gametophytes and mutualistic as mature sporophytes. However, the function of the symbiosis across juvenile and retreating sporophyte life stages remains unknown. We measured carbon-for-nutrient exchanges between L. inundata and MFRE across the transition from newly emerging sporophytes to mature sporophytes and in retreating adult sporophytes. We show MFRE fungi play distinct functional roles at each plant life stage, with evidence of bidirectional exchange of plant C for fungal acquired nutrients (N and P) between mature adult and retreating adult sporophytes and fungi, but no transfer of plant C to fungi and little fungal-acquired nutrient gain in juvenile sporophytes. Furthermore, we show that these functional stages correspond with different cytologies of colonisation. Our results show that MFRE have considerable plasticity in their interactions with the host plant which is related to the developmental stage of the host. This highlights the need for further research into symbiotic fungal function across plant life histories.

  • molecular evidence of Mucoromycotina fine root endophyte fungi in agricultural crops
    Proceedings of The 1st International Electronic Conference on Plant Science, 2020
    Co-Authors: Besiana Sinanaj, Silvia Pressel, Martin I. Bidartondo, Katie J. Field
    Abstract:

    Over 85% of land plants engage in symbiotic relationships with mycorrhiza-forming soil fungi that colonise their roots. These associations, termed mycorrhizal symbioses, involve the exchange of fungal-acquired nutrients and water for photosynthetically fixed plant carbon. Mycorrhizal symbioses are thus considered a promising nature-based solution to making agricultural practices more sustainable, particularly by reducing the need for chemical fertiliser applications on soils while maintaining crop yields. In order to implement the widespread use of mycorrhizal fungi in agriculture, a complete awareness of their range of plant hosts is needed. Mucoromycotina Fine Root Endophytes (MFRE) are a group of mycorrhiza-forming fungi that, over the last decade, have been shown to be phylogenetically and functionally distinct from the common Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF). Fungal morphologies similar to those of MFRE have been described in early light microscopy studies on roots stained for mycorrhiza. However, owing to limitations in the tools used to identify fungal endophytes until now, these structures were routinely misidentified as belonging to AMF. As such, the true range of plant hosts colonised by MFRE remains unclear. Here, we provide the first molecular evidence of MFRE colonisation within the roots of winter wheat, winter barley, spring wheat and strawberries. Root samples were collected from an Oxfordshire farm (UK) and were analysed for fungal symbionts using a workflow involving PCR with the NS1/EF3 universal fungal primer set and molecular cloning. Partial DNA sequences of the 18S ribosomal RNA gene were obtained and were analysed using BLAST. Our findings shed light on the true distribution of plant-MFRE associations and give rise to new questions regarding their functional significance within agricultural plants.

  • carbon for nutrient exchange between the lycophyte lycopodiella inundata and Mucoromycotina fine root endophytes is unresponsive to high atmospheric co2 concentration
    bioRxiv, 2020
    Co-Authors: Grace A Hoysted, Jeffrey G. Duckett, Martin I. Bidartondo, Silvia Pressel, Jill Kowal, Katie J. Field
    Abstract:

    Background and AimsNon-vascular plants associating with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AMF) and Mucoromycotina fine root endophyte (MFRE) fungi derive greater benefits from their fungal associates under higher atmospheric [CO2] than ambient, however nothing is known about how changes in [CO2] affects MFRE function in vascular plants. MethodsWe measured movement of phosphorus (P), nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) between the lycophyte, Lycopodiella inundata and Mucoromycotina fine root endophyte fungi using 33P-orthophosphate, 15N-ammonium chloride and 14CO2 isotope tracers under ambient and elevated atmospheric [CO2] concentrations of 440 and 800 ppm, respectively. Key ResultsTransfer of 33P and 15N from MFRE to plant were unaffected by changes in [CO2]. There was a slight increase in C transfer from plant to MFRE under elevated [CO2]. ConclusionsOur results demonstrate that the exchange of C-for-nutrients between a vascular plant and Mucoromycotina FRE is largely unaffected by changes in atmospheric [CO2]. Unravelling the role of MFRE in host plant nutrition and potential C-for-N trade changes between symbionts under varying abiotic conditions is imperative to further our understanding of the past, present and future roles of diverse plant-fungal symbioses in global ecosystems.

Jeffrey G. Duckett - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Carbon for nutrient exchange between Lycopodiella inundata and Mucoromycotina fine root endophytes is unresponsive to high atmospheric CO_2
    Mycorrhiza, 2021
    Co-Authors: Grace A Hoysted, Jeffrey G. Duckett, Martin I. Bidartondo, Silvia Pressel, Jill Kowal, Katie J. Field
    Abstract:

    Non-vascular plants associating with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AMF) and Mucoromycotina ‘fine root endophyte’ (MFRE) fungi derive greater benefits from their fungal associates under higher atmospheric [CO_2] (a[CO_2]) than ambient; however, nothing is known about how changes in a[CO_2] affect MFRE function in vascular plants. We measured movement of phosphorus (P), nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) between the lycophyte Lycopodiella inundata and Mucoromycotina fine root endophyte fungi using ^33P-orthophosphate, ^15 N-ammonium chloride and ^14CO_2 isotope tracers under ambient and elevated a[CO_2] concentrations of 440 and 800 ppm, respectively. Transfers of ^33P and ^15 N from MFRE to plants were unaffected by changes in a[CO_2]. There was a slight increase in C transfer from plants to MFRE under elevated a[CO_2]. Our results demonstrate that the exchange of C-for-nutrients between a vascular plant and Mucoromycotina FRE is largely unaffected by changes in a[CO_2]. Unravelling the role of MFRE in host plant nutrition and potential C-for-N trade changes between symbionts under different abiotic conditions is imperative to further our understanding of the past, present and future roles of plant-fungal symbioses in ecosystems.

  • phenology and function in lycopod Mucoromycotina symbiosis
    New Phytologist, 2021
    Co-Authors: Grace A Hoysted, Jeffrey G. Duckett, Martin I. Bidartondo, Silvia Pressel, Katie J. Field
    Abstract:

    Lycopodiella inundata is a lycophyte with a complex life cycle. The gametophytes and the juvenile, mature and retreating sporophytes form associations with Mucoromycotina fine root endophyte (MFRE) fungi, being mycoheterotrophic as gametophytes and mutualistic as mature sporophytes. However, the function of the symbiosis across juvenile and retreating sporophyte life stages remains unknown. We measured carbon-for-nutrient exchanges between L. inundata and MFRE across the transition from newly emerging sporophytes to mature sporophytes and in retreating adult sporophytes. We show MFRE fungi play distinct functional roles at each plant life stage, with evidence of bidirectional exchange of plant C for fungal acquired nutrients (N and P) between mature adult and retreating adult sporophytes and fungi, but no transfer of plant C to fungi and little fungal-acquired nutrient gain in juvenile sporophytes. Furthermore, we show that these functional stages correspond with different cytologies of colonisation. Our results show that MFRE have considerable plasticity in their interactions with the host plant which is related to the developmental stage of the host. This highlights the need for further research into symbiotic fungal function across plant life histories.

  • carbon for nutrient exchange between the lycophyte lycopodiella inundata and Mucoromycotina fine root endophytes is unresponsive to high atmospheric co2 concentration
    bioRxiv, 2020
    Co-Authors: Grace A Hoysted, Jeffrey G. Duckett, Martin I. Bidartondo, Silvia Pressel, Jill Kowal, Katie J. Field
    Abstract:

    Background and AimsNon-vascular plants associating with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AMF) and Mucoromycotina fine root endophyte (MFRE) fungi derive greater benefits from their fungal associates under higher atmospheric [CO2] than ambient, however nothing is known about how changes in [CO2] affects MFRE function in vascular plants. MethodsWe measured movement of phosphorus (P), nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) between the lycophyte, Lycopodiella inundata and Mucoromycotina fine root endophyte fungi using 33P-orthophosphate, 15N-ammonium chloride and 14CO2 isotope tracers under ambient and elevated atmospheric [CO2] concentrations of 440 and 800 ppm, respectively. Key ResultsTransfer of 33P and 15N from MFRE to plant were unaffected by changes in [CO2]. There was a slight increase in C transfer from plant to MFRE under elevated [CO2]. ConclusionsOur results demonstrate that the exchange of C-for-nutrients between a vascular plant and Mucoromycotina FRE is largely unaffected by changes in atmospheric [CO2]. Unravelling the role of MFRE in host plant nutrition and potential C-for-N trade changes between symbionts under varying abiotic conditions is imperative to further our understanding of the past, present and future roles of diverse plant-fungal symbioses in global ecosystems.

  • The distribution and evolution of fungal symbioses in ancient lineages of land plants
    Mycorrhiza, 2020
    Co-Authors: William R. Rimington, Jeffrey G. Duckett, Katie J. Field, Martin I. Bidartondo, Silvia Pressel
    Abstract:

    An accurate understanding of the diversity and distribution of fungal symbioses in land plants is essential for mycorrhizal research. Here we update the seminal work of Wang and Qiu (Mycorrhiza 16:299-363, 2006 ) with a long-overdue focus on early-diverging land plant lineages, which were considerably under-represented in their survey, by examining the published literature to compile data on the status of fungal symbioses in liverworts, hornworts and lycophytes. Our survey combines data from 84 publications, including recent, post-2006, reports of Mucoromycotina associations in these lineages, to produce a list of at least 591 species with known fungal symbiosis status, 180 of which were included in Wang and Qiu (Mycorrhiza 16:299-363, 2006 ). Using this up-to-date compilation, we estimate that fewer than 30% of liverwort species engage in symbiosis with fungi belonging to all three mycorrhizal phyla, Mucoromycota, Basidiomycota and Ascomycota, with the last being the most widespread (17%). Fungal symbioses in hornworts (78%) and lycophytes (up to 100%) appear to be more common but involve only members of the two Mucoromycota subphyla Mucoromycotina and Glomeromycotina, with Glomeromycotina prevailing in both plant groups. Our fungal symbiosis occurrence estimates are considerably more conservative than those published previously, but they too may represent overestimates due to currently unavoidable assumptions.

  • Evolution and networks in ancient and widespread symbioses between Mucoromycotina and liverworts
    Mycorrhiza, 2019
    Co-Authors: William R. Rimington, Jeffrey G. Duckett, Katie J. Field, Silvia Pressel, Martin I. Bidartondo
    Abstract:

    Like the majority of land plants, liverworts regularly form intimate symbioses with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Glomeromycotina). Recent phylogenetic and physiological studies report that they also form intimate symbioses with Mucoromycotina fungi and that some of these, like those involving Glomeromycotina, represent nutritional mutualisms. To compare these symbioses, we carried out a global analysis of Mucoromycotina fungi in liverworts and other plants using species delimitation, ancestral reconstruction, and network analyses. We found that Mucoromycotina are more common and diverse symbionts of liverworts than previously thought, globally distributed, ancestral, and often co-occur with Glomeromycotina within plants. However, our results also suggest that the associations formed by Mucoromycotina fungi are fundamentally different because, unlike Glomeromycotina, they may have evolved multiple times and their symbiotic networks are un-nested (i.e., not forming nested subsets of species). We infer that the global Mucoromycotina symbiosis is evolutionarily and ecologically distinctive.

William R. Rimington - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • The distribution and evolution of fungal symbioses in ancient lineages of land plants
    Mycorrhiza, 2020
    Co-Authors: William R. Rimington, Jeffrey G. Duckett, Katie J. Field, Martin I. Bidartondo, Silvia Pressel
    Abstract:

    An accurate understanding of the diversity and distribution of fungal symbioses in land plants is essential for mycorrhizal research. Here we update the seminal work of Wang and Qiu (Mycorrhiza 16:299-363, 2006 ) with a long-overdue focus on early-diverging land plant lineages, which were considerably under-represented in their survey, by examining the published literature to compile data on the status of fungal symbioses in liverworts, hornworts and lycophytes. Our survey combines data from 84 publications, including recent, post-2006, reports of Mucoromycotina associations in these lineages, to produce a list of at least 591 species with known fungal symbiosis status, 180 of which were included in Wang and Qiu (Mycorrhiza 16:299-363, 2006 ). Using this up-to-date compilation, we estimate that fewer than 30% of liverwort species engage in symbiosis with fungi belonging to all three mycorrhizal phyla, Mucoromycota, Basidiomycota and Ascomycota, with the last being the most widespread (17%). Fungal symbioses in hornworts (78%) and lycophytes (up to 100%) appear to be more common but involve only members of the two Mucoromycota subphyla Mucoromycotina and Glomeromycotina, with Glomeromycotina prevailing in both plant groups. Our fungal symbiosis occurrence estimates are considerably more conservative than those published previously, but they too may represent overestimates due to currently unavoidable assumptions.

  • Evolution and networks in ancient and widespread symbioses between Mucoromycotina and liverworts
    Mycorrhiza, 2019
    Co-Authors: William R. Rimington, Jeffrey G. Duckett, Katie J. Field, Silvia Pressel, Martin I. Bidartondo
    Abstract:

    Like the majority of land plants, liverworts regularly form intimate symbioses with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Glomeromycotina). Recent phylogenetic and physiological studies report that they also form intimate symbioses with Mucoromycotina fungi and that some of these, like those involving Glomeromycotina, represent nutritional mutualisms. To compare these symbioses, we carried out a global analysis of Mucoromycotina fungi in liverworts and other plants using species delimitation, ancestral reconstruction, and network analyses. We found that Mucoromycotina are more common and diverse symbionts of liverworts than previously thought, globally distributed, ancestral, and often co-occur with Glomeromycotina within plants. However, our results also suggest that the associations formed by Mucoromycotina fungi are fundamentally different because, unlike Glomeromycotina, they may have evolved multiple times and their symbiotic networks are un-nested (i.e., not forming nested subsets of species). We infer that the global Mucoromycotina symbiosis is evolutionarily and ecologically distinctive.

  • Mucoromycotina fine root endophyte fungi form nutritional mutualisms with vascular plants
    Plant Physiology, 2019
    Co-Authors: Grace A Hoysted, Jeffrey G. Duckett, Martin I. Bidartondo, Alison S. Jacob, Jill Kowal, Philipp Giesemann, Gerhard Gebauer, William R. Rimington
    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, interrelationships, and ecology of underground plant–fungal symbioses in modern terrestrial ecosystems by revealing the nutritional role of Mucoromycotina fungal symbionts in vascular plants.

  • Mucoromycotina fine root endophyte fungi form nutritional mutualisms with vascular plants
    bioRxiv, 2019
    Co-Authors: Grace A Hoysted, Jeffrey G. Duckett, Martin I. Bidartondo, Alison S. Jacob, Jill Kowal, Philipp Giesemann, Gerhard Gebauer, William R. Rimington
    Abstract:

    Abstract Fungi and plants have engaged in intimate symbioses that are globally widespread and have driven terrestrial biogeochemical processes since plant terrestrialisation >500 Mya. Recently, hitherto unknown nutritional mutualisms involving ancient lineages of fungi and non-vascular plants have been discovered. However, their extent and functional significance in vascular plants remains uncertain. Here, we provide first evidence of abundant carbon-for-nitrogen exchange between an early-diverging vascular plant (Lycopodiaceae) and Mucoromycotina (Endogonales) fine root endophyte regardless of changes in atmospheric CO2 concentration. Furthermore, we provide evidence that the same fungi also colonize neighbouring non-vascular and flowering plants. These findings fundamentally change our understanding of the evolution, physiology, interrelationships and ecology of underground plant-fungal symbioses in terrestrial ecosystems by revealing an unprecedented nutritional role of Mucoromycotina fungal symbionts in vascular plants.

  • functional analysis of liverworts in dual symbiosis with glomeromycota and Mucoromycotina fungi under a simulated palaeozoic co2 decline
    The ISME Journal, 2016
    Co-Authors: Katie J. Field, William R. Rimington, Martin I. Bidartondo, Kate E Allinson, David J Beerling, Duncan D Cameron, Jeffrey G. Duckett
    Abstract:

    Most land plants form mutualistic associations with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi of the Glomeromycota, but recent studies have found that ancient plant lineages form mutualisms with Mucoromycotina fungi. Simultaneous associations with both fungal lineages have now been found in some plants, necessitating studies to understand the functional and evolutionary significance of these tripartite associations for the first time. We investigate the physiology and cytology of dual fungal symbioses in the early-diverging liverworts Allisonia and Neohodgsonia at modern and Palaeozoic-like elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations under which they are thought to have evolved. We found enhanced carbon cost to liverworts with simultaneous Mucoromycotina and Glomeromycota associations, greater nutrient gain compared with those symbiotic with only one fungal group in previous experiments and contrasting responses to atmospheric CO2 among liverwort–fungal symbioses. In liverwort–Mucoromycotina symbioses, there is increased P-for-C and N-for-C exchange efficiency at 440 p.p.m. compared with 1500 p.p.m. CO2. In liverwort–Glomeromycota symbioses, P-for-C exchange is lower at ambient CO2 compared with elevated CO2. No characteristic cytologies of dual symbiosis were identified. We provide evidence of a distinct physiological niche for plant symbioses with Mucoromycotina fungi, giving novel insight into why dual symbioses with Mucoromycotina and Glomeromycota fungi persist to the present day.

Grace A Hoysted - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • critical research challenges facing Mucoromycotina fine root endophytes
    New Phytologist, 2021
    Co-Authors: Besiana Sinanaj, Silvia Pressel, Martin I. Bidartondo, Grace A Hoysted, Katie J. Field
    Abstract:

    Mucoromycotina 'Fine Root Endophytes' (MFRE), referred to previously as Glomus tenue (Greenall) or more recently Planticonsortium tenue (Walker et al., 2018), are a globally distributed group of soil fungi (Orchard et al., 2017a) that form endosymbioses with plants from across most of the land plant phylogeny (Rimington et al., 2019; Hoysted et al., 2018; 2019). Despite much progress having been made in characterising plant-MFRE symbioses in the last decade, significant challenges remain.

  • Carbon for nutrient exchange between Lycopodiella inundata and Mucoromycotina fine root endophytes is unresponsive to high atmospheric CO_2
    Mycorrhiza, 2021
    Co-Authors: Grace A Hoysted, Jeffrey G. Duckett, Martin I. Bidartondo, Silvia Pressel, Jill Kowal, Katie J. Field
    Abstract:

    Non-vascular plants associating with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AMF) and Mucoromycotina ‘fine root endophyte’ (MFRE) fungi derive greater benefits from their fungal associates under higher atmospheric [CO_2] (a[CO_2]) than ambient; however, nothing is known about how changes in a[CO_2] affect MFRE function in vascular plants. We measured movement of phosphorus (P), nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) between the lycophyte Lycopodiella inundata and Mucoromycotina fine root endophyte fungi using ^33P-orthophosphate, ^15 N-ammonium chloride and ^14CO_2 isotope tracers under ambient and elevated a[CO_2] concentrations of 440 and 800 ppm, respectively. Transfers of ^33P and ^15 N from MFRE to plants were unaffected by changes in a[CO_2]. There was a slight increase in C transfer from plants to MFRE under elevated a[CO_2]. Our results demonstrate that the exchange of C-for-nutrients between a vascular plant and Mucoromycotina FRE is largely unaffected by changes in a[CO_2]. Unravelling the role of MFRE in host plant nutrition and potential C-for-N trade changes between symbionts under different abiotic conditions is imperative to further our understanding of the past, present and future roles of plant-fungal symbioses in ecosystems.

  • phenology and function in lycopod Mucoromycotina symbiosis
    New Phytologist, 2021
    Co-Authors: Grace A Hoysted, Jeffrey G. Duckett, Martin I. Bidartondo, Silvia Pressel, Katie J. Field
    Abstract:

    Lycopodiella inundata is a lycophyte with a complex life cycle. The gametophytes and the juvenile, mature and retreating sporophytes form associations with Mucoromycotina fine root endophyte (MFRE) fungi, being mycoheterotrophic as gametophytes and mutualistic as mature sporophytes. However, the function of the symbiosis across juvenile and retreating sporophyte life stages remains unknown. We measured carbon-for-nutrient exchanges between L. inundata and MFRE across the transition from newly emerging sporophytes to mature sporophytes and in retreating adult sporophytes. We show MFRE fungi play distinct functional roles at each plant life stage, with evidence of bidirectional exchange of plant C for fungal acquired nutrients (N and P) between mature adult and retreating adult sporophytes and fungi, but no transfer of plant C to fungi and little fungal-acquired nutrient gain in juvenile sporophytes. Furthermore, we show that these functional stages correspond with different cytologies of colonisation. Our results show that MFRE have considerable plasticity in their interactions with the host plant which is related to the developmental stage of the host. This highlights the need for further research into symbiotic fungal function across plant life histories.

  • carbon for nutrient exchange between the lycophyte lycopodiella inundata and Mucoromycotina fine root endophytes is unresponsive to high atmospheric co2 concentration
    bioRxiv, 2020
    Co-Authors: Grace A Hoysted, Jeffrey G. Duckett, Martin I. Bidartondo, Silvia Pressel, Jill Kowal, Katie J. Field
    Abstract:

    Background and AimsNon-vascular plants associating with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AMF) and Mucoromycotina fine root endophyte (MFRE) fungi derive greater benefits from their fungal associates under higher atmospheric [CO2] than ambient, however nothing is known about how changes in [CO2] affects MFRE function in vascular plants. MethodsWe measured movement of phosphorus (P), nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) between the lycophyte, Lycopodiella inundata and Mucoromycotina fine root endophyte fungi using 33P-orthophosphate, 15N-ammonium chloride and 14CO2 isotope tracers under ambient and elevated atmospheric [CO2] concentrations of 440 and 800 ppm, respectively. Key ResultsTransfer of 33P and 15N from MFRE to plant were unaffected by changes in [CO2]. There was a slight increase in C transfer from plant to MFRE under elevated [CO2]. ConclusionsOur results demonstrate that the exchange of C-for-nutrients between a vascular plant and Mucoromycotina FRE is largely unaffected by changes in atmospheric [CO2]. Unravelling the role of MFRE in host plant nutrition and potential C-for-N trade changes between symbionts under varying abiotic conditions is imperative to further our understanding of the past, present and future roles of diverse plant-fungal symbioses in global ecosystems.

  • Mucoromycotina Fine Root Endophyte Fungi Form Nutritional Mutualisms with Vascular Plants
    'American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB)', 2019
    Co-Authors: Grace A Hoysted, As Jacob, Kowal J, Giesemann P, Mi Bidartondo, Jg Duckett, Gebauer G, Wr Rimington, Schornack S, Pressel S
    Abstract:

    Fungi and plants have engaged in intimate symbioses that are globally widespread and have driven terrestrial biogeochemical processes since plant terrestrialisation >500 Mya. Recently, hitherto unknown nutritional mutualisms involving ancient lineages of fungi and non-vascular plants have been discovered although their extent and functional significance in vascular plants remains uncertain. Here, we provide first evidence of carbon-for-nitrogen exchange between an early-diverging vascular plant (Lycopodiaceae) and Mucoromycotina (Endogonales) fine root endophyte. Furthermore, we provide evidence that the same fungal symbionts colonize neighbouring non-vascular and flowering plants. These findings fundamentally change our understanding of the physiology, interrelationships and ecology of underground plant-fungal symbioses in modern terrestrial ecosystems by revealing the nutritional role of Mucoromycotina fungal symbionts in vascular plants