Premium
Detection of a transient mitochondrial DNA heteroplasmy in the progeny of crossed genetically divergent isolates of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
Author(s) -
Providencia Ivan Enrique,
Nadimi Maryam,
Beaudet Denis,
Rodriguez Morales Gabriela,
Hijri Mohamed
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/nph.12372
Subject(s) - biology , heteroplasmy , mitochondrial dna , genetics , haplotype , spore , genotype , botany , gene
Summary Nonself fusion and nuclear genetic exchange have been documented in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi ( AMF ), particularly in Rhizophagus irregularis . However, mitochondrial transmission accompanying nonself fusion of genetically divergent isolates remains unknown. Here, we tested the hypothesis that mitochondrial DNA (mt DNA ) heteroplasmy occurs in the progeny of spores, obtained by crossing genetically divergent mt DNA s in R. irregularis isolates. Three isolates of geographically distant locations were used to investigate nonself fusions and mt DNA transmission to the progeny. We sequenced two additional mt DNA s of two R. irregularis isolates and developed isolate‐specific size‐variable markers in intergenic regions of these isolates and those of DAOM ‐197198. We achieved three crossing combinations in pre‐symbiotic and symbiotic phases. Progeny spores per crossing combination were genotyped using isolate‐specific markers. We found evidence that nonself recognition occurs between isolates originating from different continents both in pre‐symbiotic and symbiotic phases. Genotyping patterns of individual spores from the progeny clearly showed the presence of markers of the two parental mt DNA haplotypes. Our results demonstrate that mt DNA heteroplasmy occurs in the progeny of the crossed isolates. However, this heteroplasmy appears to be a transient stage because all the live progeny spores that were able to germinate showed only one mt DNA haplotype.