Endosymbiont transmission mode in bacterial leaf nodulation as revealed by a population genetic study of Psychotria leptophylla.
Leaf-nodulated plants are colonized by vertically inherited bacterial endosymbionts, which maintain symbioses throughout host generations. The permanent character of the interaction implies phylogenetic congruence between the host and the endosymbiont. However, the present population genetic study of Psychotria leptophylla provides evidence for a mixed symbiont transmission involving both vertical inheritance and horizontal transfers from the environment.
Laboratory of Plant Systematics, K.U. Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. benny.lemaire@bio.kuleuven.be
Benny
B
Lemaire
Steven
S
Janssens
Erik
E
Smets
Steven
S
Dessein
D001499:Bayes Theorem; D019117:Burkholderia / Q000235:genetics*; D002163:Cameroon; D027081:DNA Gyrase / Q000235:genetics; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D005828:Genetics, Population; D058507:Host Specificity / Q000235:genetics*; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D032069:Psychotria / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology*; D013559:Symbiosis / Q000235:genetics*
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D027081:DNA Gyrase