Glomus

Classification

Eukaryota; Fungi/Metazoa group; Fungi; Glomermycota; Glomermycetes; Glomerales; Glomeraceae(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/ NCBI)

Species

Glomus aggregatum;Glomus aurantium;Glomus aureum;Glomus badium;Glomus caledonium;Glomus claroideum;Glomus cf. claroideum;Glomus clarum;Glomus cf. clarum;Glomus constrictum;Glomus coremioides;Glomus coronatum;Glomus deserticola;Glomus diaphanum;Glomus cf. diaphanum 589;Glomus dimorphicum;Glomus drummondi;Glomus eburneum;Glomus cf. eburneum;Glomus etunicatum; Glomus cf. etunicatum W2423; Glomus fasciculatum; Glomus fragilistratum; Glomus fulvum; Glomus geosporum; Glomus cf. geosporum W2538; Glomus heterosporum; Glomus hoi; Glomus hyderabadensis; Glomus intraradices; Glomus intraradices DAOM 197198; Glomus cf. intraradices; Glomus irregulare; Glomus lamellosum; Glomus luteum; Glomus macrocarpum; Glomus manihotis; Glomus megalocarpum; Glomus microaggregatum; Glomus cf. microaggregatum; Glomus monosporum; Glomus mosseae;Glomus proliferum; Glomus pulvinatum; Glomus sinuosum; Glomus cf. sinuosum; Glomus trimurales; Glomus verruculosum; Glomus versiforme; Glomus vesiculiferum; Glomus viscosum; Glomus walkeri; Glomus xanthium

Description and Significance

Glomus exist in the environment both as a spore and hyphae which can form dense networks called mycelium, though most of Glomus biomass occurs within roots of host plants. Spores are typically borne on the terminal end of hyphae and generally spherical in appearance. Hyphae have filamentous appearance, but can be seen with the eye when a mycelium is formed, a dusty appearance on the mycelium indicate the presence of spores Mycelium are the result of substrate exploration by individual hyphae. Glomus exists in all terrestrial habitats. Plant and soil transplant experiments have found Glomus species that exhibit both r and K strategies (e.g. G. mosseae and G. badium, respectiviely) ( Sykorova et al 2007). As an endosymbiotic organism Glomus may inhabitat the roots of 70-90% of vascular plants. It is important ecologically by providing nutrients to it host. Arbusculars are formed within the cell wall that have the appearance of small trees or bushes Phosphorous, nitrogen and water may be provided to host plants through the intracellular interface (Schubler 2001). Infection of roots with Glomus may also protect the host plant from harmful soil borne pathogens. These attributes of the Glomus-plant symbiosis play an important role in the economic sectors involving the growth of plants such as agriculture, horticulture and forestry.

Genome Structure

Describe the size and content of the genome. How many chromosomes? Circular or linear? Other interesting features? What is known about its sequence?

Cell Structure, Metabolism and Life Cycle

Interesting features of cell structure; how it gains energy; what important molecules it produces.

Ecology and Pathogenesis

Glomus is not known to be pathogenic. As a fungi, Glomus, contributes to fungal biomass dominance of soils. Glomus is an arbuscular mycorrhiza, or endomychorizza, meaning it penetrates the cell wall of it host plant. Within the cell wall the fungi forms arbusuclars or tree like structures at the subcellular level. Arbuscular are the site of transfer of materials between host and fungi. Glomus, like all AM, are obligate heterotrophs, that is they require a host to obtain organic nutrients (Schubler et al 2001). In return the host plant acquires inorganic nutrients from the AM fungi. In this respect, Glomus can an important role in the overall nutrient cycling of ecosystems. Estimates of host plant organic input to AM species range from 1 to 20%. Host specificity in AM has led to a link a positive correlation in AM diversity and plant diversity, they may protect plant roots from pests, and increase overall fitness of their host.

References

Schubler, A., Schawrzott, D., and Walker, C. 2001 "A new phylum, the Glomermycota: phylogeny and evolution." Mycol. Res. 105 (12) p. 1413-1421

Sykorova, Z., Ineichen, K., Wiemken, A., Redecker, D. 2007 "The cultivation bias: different communities of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi detected in roots from the feild, from bait plants transplanted to the field, and from a greenhouse trap experiment." Mycorrhiza 18: 1-14

[==Author== Page authored by _Ryan Colliton and Aaron Cooch, student of Prof. Jay Lennon at Michigan State University.