Research Seminar - Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment

Seminar abstract: Genomics has introduced an important new dimension into mycorrhizal research by establishing data to serve as a new and fundamental resource for genetics and molecular biology of the symbiosis formation. With the current genomic view of ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi that we have, a possible scenario suggests that (1) irreversible losses of lignocellulose decomposition pathways play a key role in the evolutionary stability of the ectomycorrhizal mutualisms and (2) that each major EM fungal clade has subsequently and independently designed symbiotic molecular toolboxes each time the mycorrhizal lifestyle has arisen in the tree of life. This hypothesis would predict that symbiotic toolboxes are tailor made for each major fungal clade (e.g., Agaricales, Boletales, Sebacinales) and may be tuned according to specific plant hosts. To further our understanding of the evolution of these symbioses, the Mycorrhizal Genomics Initiative targets a set of 30 fungal mycorrhizal species. Taxa have been selected for (1) their phylogenetic novelty, (2) their ability to establish different types of mycorrhizal symbioses and (3) their taxonomic relationships with already sequenced EM genomes. Several target species are capable of forming different types of intracellular colonizing structures – and this plasticity depends on plant host. Several species are dominant fungus in their ecological settings and others are currently used in the commercial forestry industry to inoculate conifer or hardwood seedlings for lumber, bioenergy and landscape trees. I will discuss how the comparative analysis of mycorrhizal genomes has, and will continue, to shed light on the evolution of mycorrhizal symbioses.

For more information on Dr Kohler, please visit http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Annegret_Kohler/ No RSVP is required, we hope to see you all there.