Geosiphon-Nostoc Endosymbiosis

Classification

Higher order taxa

Domain: Bacteria, Phylum: Cyanobacteria, Class: Cyanophyceae, Order: Nostocales, Family: Nostocaceae, Genus: Nostoc

Domain: Fungi, Phylum: Mucoromycota, Class: Glomeromycetes, Order: Archaeosporales, Family: Geosiphonaceae, Genus: Geosiphon

Species

Nostoc punctiforme (ATTC: 29133) Geosiphon pyriformis (NCBI: 50956)

Description and significance

Nostoc punctiforme is a cyanobacteria....

Geosiphon pyriformis is a glomeromycete fungus and obligate symbiont commonly found in soil. Glomeromycete fungi are usually arbuscular mycorrhizae that form a symbiotic relationship with vascular plants and brophytes. While most glomeromycete fungi form these arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) relationships, Geosiphon pyriformis has not been observed in AM relationships with plants.

Geosiphon pyriformis "may also be symbiotic with plants. If so an ecological network could exist among AMF, vascular plants, brophytes, and cyanobacteria, with extensive sharing and exchange among the symbiotic partners." (Schubler 2012)