Blurred boundaries: lifestyle lessons from ectomycorrhizal fungal genomes.
Soils contain a multitude of fungi with vastly divergent lifestyles ranging from saprotrophic to mutualistic and pathogenic. The recent release of many fungal genomes has led to comparative studies that consider the extent to which these lifestyles are encoded in the genome. The genomes of the symbiotic fungi Laccaria bicolor and Tuber melanosporum are proving especially useful in characterizing the genetic foundation of mutualistic symbiosis. New insights gleaned from these genomes, as compared to their saprotrophic and pathogenic cousins, have helped to redefine and shape our understanding of the nature of the symbiotic lifestyle. Here we detail the current state of research into this complex relationship and discuss avenues for future exploration.
Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Université Henri Poincaré Unité Mixte de Recherche 1136, Interactions Arbres/Micro-Organismes, Centre INRA de Nancy, 54280 Champenoux, France.
Jonathan M
JM
Plett
Francis
F
Martin
D016681:Genome, Fungal; D038821:Mycorrhizae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013559:Symbiosis