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In‐planta sporulation phenotype: a major life history trait to understand the evolution of A lnus ‐infective F rankia strains
Author(s) -
Pozzi Adrien C.,
BautistaGuerrero Hector H.,
Nouioui Imen,
CotinGalvan Laëtitia,
Pepin Régis,
Fournier Pascale,
Menu Frédéric,
Fernandez Maria P.,
HerreraBelaroussi Aude
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
environmental microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.954
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1462-2920
pISSN - 1462-2912
DOI - 10.1111/1462-2920.12644
Subject(s) - biology , frankia , genetic diversity , phylogenetic tree , spore , host (biology) , botany , lineage (genetic) , phylogenetics , strain (injury) , genotype , alder , genetic distance , genetic variation , symbiosis , gene , genetics , root nodule , bacteria , population , demography , anatomy , sociology
Summary Two major types of F rankia strains are usually recognized, based on the ability to sporulate in‐planta : spore‐positive ( Sp +) and spore‐negative ( Sp −). We carried out a study of Sp + and Sp − Frankia strains based on nodules collected on A lnus glutinosa , A lnus incana and A lnus viridis . The nodules were phenotyped using improved histology methods, and endophytic F rankia strain genotype was determined using a multilocus sequence analysis approach. An additional sampling was done to assess the relation between Sp + phenotype frequency and genetic diversity of Frankia strains at the alder stand scale. Our results revealed that (i) Sp + and Sp − Alnus ‐infective Frankia strains are genetically different even when sampled from the same alder stand and the same host–plant species; (ii) there are at least two distinct phylogenetic lineages of Sp + F rankia that cluster according to the host–plant species and without regard of geographic distance and (iii) genetic diversity of Sp + strains is very low at the alder stand scale compared with Sp − strains. Difference in evolutionary history and genetic diversity between Sp + and Sp − Frankia allows us to discuss the possible ecological role of in‐planta sporulation.