A comprehensive phylogeny of Neurospora reveals a link between reproductive mode and molecular evolution in fungi

Nygren, Kristiina; Strandberg, Rebecka; Wållberg, Andreas; Nabholz, Benoît; Gustafsson, Tim; García, Dania; Cano, J.; Guarro, Josep; Johannesson, Hanna

doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2011.03.023

Cited by 98 publications

(77 citation statements)

References 88 publications

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“…Patterns of distribution of sexual compatibility have previously been used to better understand the evolution of fungal mating systems in other fungi (Inderbitzin et al, 2005;Nygren et al, 2011;Yun et al, 1999). Likewise, the distribution of homothallic and heterothallic species provides an opportunity to gain insights into the origin and evolution of homothallism and heterothallism in Leptographium sensu lato.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mating type markers reveal high levels of heterothallism in Leptographium sensu lato

et al. 2016

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Species of Leptographium sensu lato (Ophiostomatales, Ascomycetes) are sap-stain fungi vectored by bark beetles (Coleoptera, Scolytinae) and some species cause or are associated with tree diseases. Sexual states have been reported for more than 30 species in this group and these have been treated in the sexual genus Grosmannia. No sexual state is known for at least 59 additional species and these reside in the genus Leptographium. The discovery of sexual states for species of Leptographium relies mainly on the presence of fruiting bodies on host tissue at the time of isolation and/or intensive laboratory mating studies, which commonly have a low levels of success. In this study, markers were developed to diagnose mating-type and to study sexual compatibility of species in Leptographium sensu lato using these markers. To achieve this objective, available mating type sequences for species of Leptographium sensu lato and Ophiostoma were obtained, aligned and used to design primers to amplify MAT genes in Grosmannia and Leptographium species. Using these primers, it was possible to amplify portions of the mating type genes for 42 species and to determine thallism, in many species for the first time. Surprisingly, the results showed that heterothallic and putatively heterothallic species are abundant (39 out of 42 species) in Leptographium sensu lato, and only three species were confirmed to be homothallic. The mating-type markers developed in this study will be useful for future studies concerning mating type and sexual compatibility of species in this genus.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mating type markers reveal high levels of heterothallism in Leptographium sensu lato

et al. 2016

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“…after the origin of homothallic O. sinensis indicated that, like Neurospora spp. [34], multiple switches in mating systems have also occurred in the evolutionary history of insect pathogens (Figure 3(c)). It is likely that inbreeding is an adaptation by O. sinensis to a much more specialized lifestyle and extreme environmental conditions that produce a limited population size [34].…”

Section: Homothallism In the Caterpillar Fungusmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[34], multiple switches in mating systems have also occurred in the evolutionary history of insect pathogens (Figure 3(c)). It is likely that inbreeding is an adaptation by O. sinensis to a much more specialized lifestyle and extreme environmental conditions that produce a limited population size [34]. Consistent with this, O. sinensis has fewer (5 genes) heterokaryon incompatibility proteins than other insect pathogens (≥15 genes) (Table S6) suggesting it encounters fewer genetically distinct individuals than its more opportunistic relatives and therefore does not need barriers to vegetative fusions [35].…”

Section: Homothallism In the Caterpillar Fungusmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genome survey uncovers the secrets of sex and lifestyle in caterpillar fungus

et al. 2013

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The caterpillar fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis (best known as Cordyceps sinensis) mummifies ghost moth larvae exclusively in Tibetan Plateau alpine ecosystems. Touted as "Himalayan Viagra", the fungus is highly prized due to its medical benefits and dwindling supplies. Attempts to culture the sexual fruiting-body have failed and the huge market demand has led to severe devastation of local ecosystems and to the fungus heading towards extinction. By genome sequencing, we establish that unlike related insect pathogens O. sinensis contains two compatible mating-type genes in its genome and is self-fertile, i.e. homothallic. However, sexual processes are only initiated under native environmental conditions. O. sinensis resembles biotrophic plant pathogens in having a genome shaped by retrotransposon-driven expansions. The resulting changes in gene content suggest that O. sinensis has a biphasic pathogenic mechanism beginning with stealth pathogenesis in early host instars. O. sinensis is the first psychrophilic fungus sequenced and is adapted to extreme cold with putative antifreeze proteins and mechanisms for increasing lipid accumulation and fatty acid unsaturation. We hypothesize that for the inbreeding O. sinensis the massive proliferation of retrotransposons provides a tradeoff between the advantages of increased genetic variation independent of sexual recombination and deletion of genes dispensable for its specialized pathogenic lifestyle.Ophiocordyceps sinensis, genome expansion, homothallism, biotrophic parasitism, psychrophile Citation:Hu X, Zhang Y J, Xiao G H, et al. Genome survey uncovers the secrets of sex and lifestyle in caterpillar fungus.

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“…Furthermore, information relating to the mating type genes has been used to develop hypotheses relating to the evolution of sexuality and the origins of homothallism and heterothallism in fungi (Butler et al 2009;Fraser and Heitman 2004;Nygren et al 2011;Yun et al 1999). The frequency and distribution of different mating types has also been used to assess sexual reproduction and the preferred mode of reproduction in natural populations (Groenewald et al 2006;Linde et al 2003;Rau et al 2005;Stergiopoulos et al 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of the mating-type genes in Leptographium procerum and Leptographium profanum

et al. 2013

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Highlights· The mating-type loci in Leptographium procerum and L. profanum were characterized.· The PCR-based mating-type markers were developed for these two species.· Leptographium procerum and L. profanum had a heterothallic mating system and thus these species are heterothallic. · Cryptic sexual reproduction was suggested for a population of L. procerum. AbstractLeptographium procerum and the closely related species Leptographium profanum, are ascomycetes associated with root-infesting beetles on pines and hardwood trees, respectively.Both species occur in North America where they are apparently native. Leptographium procerum has also been found in Europe, China New Zealand, and South Africa where it has most probably been introduced. As is true for many other Leptographium species, sexual states 2 have never been observed in L. procerum or L. profanum. The objectives of this study were to clone and characterize the mating type loci of these fungi, and to develop markers to determine the mating types of individual isolates. To achieve this, a partial sequence of MAT1-2-1 was amplified using degenerate primers targeting the high mobility group (HMG) sequence. A complete MAT1-2 idiomorph of L. profanum was subsequently obtained by screening a genomic library using the HMG sequence as a probe. Long range PCR was used to amplify the complete MAT1-1 idiomorph of L. profanum and both the MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 idiomorphs of L.procerum. Characterization of the MAT idiomorphs suggests that the MAT genes are fully functional and that individuals of both these species are self-sterile in nature with a heterothallic mating system. Mating type markers were developed and tested on a population of L. procerum isolates from the USA, the assumed center of origin for this species. The results suggest that cryptic sexual reproduction is occurring or has recently taken place within this population.

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A comprehensive phylogeny of Neurospora reveals a link between reproductive mode and molecular evolution in fungi

Cited by 98 publications

References 88 publications

Mating type markers reveal high levels of heterothallism in Leptographium sensu lato

Mating type markers reveal high levels of heterothallism in Leptographium sensu lato

Genome survey uncovers the secrets of sex and lifestyle in caterpillar fungus

Characterization of the mating-type genes in Leptographium procerum and Leptographium profanum

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