Mycoheterotrophy

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Introduction

Monotropastrum humile

The obligate mycoheterotroph Epipogium roseum

Sarcodes sanguinea

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Mycoheterotrophy is the process by which plants, either wholly or partially achlorophyllous, sustain a heterotrophic metabolism via a fungal partner that provides a source of carbon and mineral nutrients. Mycoheterotrophic plants are considered parasites of their fungal hosts, which are often--but not invariably--associated with the roots of a fully autotrophic plant.

Plants are often obligately mycoheterotrophic, with stunted root systems, degenerated vascular tissue, little or no photosynthetic capacity, and "dust-seeds" that contain a fungal inocula but little or no carbon reserves. The mycoheterotrophic plant-fungal relationship is unique inasmuch as in mutualistic mycorrhizal associations plants are the carbon source while the fungi provide mineral nutrients (primarily phosphorus and nitrogen).

While the effects of obligate mycoheterotrophs are not usually measured on the ecosystem scale, some evidence exists that adult plants can facilitate the recruitment of proximal conspecific seedlings by supplementing their carbon demand through a common mycelial network (i.e., the "wood-wide web"). This process of positive-feedback is thought to be responsible for the establishment of monoculture forest patches dominated by ectomycorrhiza plant species, even within a diverse matrix of surrounding forest. This transitive dependence on an external carbon source is termed mixotrophy.

Mycoheterotrophic plants occur in a diverse and unclustered group of plants, which include liverworts, ferns, and monocot (ex. in the order Orchidales) and some dicot (ex. in the family Monotropideae) angiosperms. The fungal hosts include highly specific functional groups of ectomycorrhiza from the orders Basidiomycota and Ascomycota, sometimes called monotropid and orchid mycorrhizas, as well as some arbuscular mycorrhizas from the order Glomeromycota.

Note that mycoheterotrophy is distinct from the direct plant-plant parasitism that results when plant parasites (ex. mistletoe) develop haustorium that tap directly into a host plant's vascular tissue.

Biological interaction

A plant family tree displaying taxa with mycoheterotrophic individuals with a dashed line. From Bidartondo (2005).

Fungal associations of mycoheterotrophic plants of the family Monotropidae from Bidartondo (2005)

Provide details of the symbiosis or biological interaction. Is this a specific or general interaction? How do these interactions influence the host or other microbial populations, and their activities? How do these interactions influence other organisms (positive or negative influences)? What is the outcome of this interaction? Are there ecological consequences? Describe biological interactions using as many sections/subsections as you require. Look at other topics available in MicrobeWiki. Create links where relevant.

Mycoheterotrophic plants are very host specific. While it was once believed that they associated with non-mycorrhizal fungi, which obtain carbon from the decomposition of dead plant material, it is now known that mycoheterotrophs parasitize mycorrhizas that obtain carbon from host-plant photosynthate (Leake 2005). Mycoheterotrophs are often associated with patches of ectomycorrhizal plants, which sustain the fungal host with a source of carbon, facilitating the production of a soil mycelial network.

These mycelia can interact with mycoheterotrophic roots, which have a specialized root-ball morphology. The plant root-balls are encapsulated by a hyphal sheath similar to those characteristic of the plant-ectomycorrhizal interface. However, the Hartig net, which acts as the source of carbon and nutrient exchange in mutualistic ectomycorrhizas, does not penetrate beyond the mycoheterotrophic epidermis. This morphological difference effects a unidirectionality of carbon flow through the mycelial network, making the mycoheterotroph exclusively a carbon sink.

Considering their total dependence of on fungal carbon, and maximum adult sizes of up to 2 meters tall (Pterospora andromedea) and masses of several kilograms (Sarcodes sanguinea, see photo above), mycoheterotrophs must consume a substantial proportion of the photosynthate transferred to ectomycorrhizas. While the effect on both the fungus and ectomycorrhizal host plants should be negative, it is not clear that this is ecologically relevant.

Mycoheterotrophy can be entirely obligate, or else partial, in which case it is called "Mixotrophy". Plants in these categories can be distinguished by their dependence on fungal inoculation, a morphological basis, and ¹³C/¹²C isotopic signature.

Obligate mycoheterotrophy

Obligate mycoheterotrophs are totally acholorophyllous. They obtain 100% of their carbon from their fungal hosts. Orchids are the largest group of obligate mycoheterotrophs.

Mixotrophy

Plants that either (1) maintain some stem and/or leaf photosynthetic capacity or (2) receive supplemental carbon from a common mycelial network in order to tolerate the shady understory are called mixotrophs.

Supplemental Mycoheterotorphy

The earliest known drawing of a mycorrhizal fungus (left, from 1888), showing the sheathing of hyphae along the root epidermis and a layer of dead plant cells. An electron micrograph (right) of the infected roots of the mycoheterotrophic Afrothismisa from 2005 shows the same thing in three-dimensions (see Dr. Hans Christian Weber's research profile).

Root system of Voyria tenella, showing the root-ball morphology

Niche

Describe the physical, chemical, or spatial characteristics of the niche where we might find this interaction, using as many sections/subsections as you require. Look at other topics available in MicrobeWiki. Create links where relevant.

Microbial processes

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What microbial processes define this environment? Describe microbial processes that are important in this habitat, adding sections/subsections as needed. Look at other topics in MicrobeWiki. Are some of these processes already described? Create links where relevant.

Key Microorganisms

Bidartondo (2005)

What specific kinds of microbes are typically involved in this interaction? Or associated with important processes? Describe key groups (genera, species) of microbes that we find in this environment, and any special adaptations they may have evolved to survive in this environment. List examples of specific microbes that represent key groups or are associated with important processes found in this environment. Add sections/subsections as needed. Look at other microbe listings in MicrobeWiki. Are some of the groups of microbes from your environment already described? Create links to other MicrobeWiki pages where possible.

Microbial processes

What microbial processes are important for this microbial interaction? Does this microbial interaction have some ecosystem-level effects? Does this interaction affect the environment in any way? Describe critical microbial processes or activities that are important in this interaction, adding sections/subsections as needed. Look at other topics in MicrobeWiki. Are some of these processes already described? Create links where relevant.

Current Research

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References

[Sample reference] Takai, K., Sugai, A., Itoh, T., and Horikoshi, K. "Palaeococcus ferrophilus gen. nov., sp. nov., a barophilic, hyperthermophilic archaeon from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent chimney". International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. 2000. Volume 50. p. 489-500.

Edited by Brian Steidinger, a student of Angela Kent at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.