Genetic and genomic glimpses of the elusive arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.

L. Lanfranco, Peter Young

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), which form an ancient and widespread mutualistic symbiosis with plants, are a crucial but still enigmatic component of the plant microbiome. Nowadays, their obligate biotrophy is no longer an obstacle to deciphering the role played by AMF in this fascinating symbiosis. The first genome-wide transcriptomic analysis of an AMF showed a metabolic complexity with no sign of massive gene loss, and the presence of genes for meiotic recombination suggests that AMF are not simple clonal organisms, as originally thought. New findings on suppression of host defenses and nutrient exchange processes have shed light on the mechanisms that contribute to such an intimate and long-lasting integration between living plant and fungal cells.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)454-461
Number of pages8
JournalCURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY
Volume15
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2012

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