Transcriptional profiling of Piriformospora indica colonizing living and dead barley roots
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ABSTRACT: Recent sequencing projects have provided deep insight into fungal lifestyle-associated genomic adaptations. Here we report on the 25 Mb genome of the mutualistic root symbiont Piriformospora indica (Sebacinales, Basidiomycota) and provide a global characterization of fungal transcriptional responses associated with the colonization of living and dead roots. Extensive comparative analysis of the P. indica genome with other Basidiomycota and Ascomycota fungi that have diverse lifestyles strategies identified features typically associated with both, biotrophism and saprotrophism. The tightly controlled expression of the lifestyle-associated gene sets during the onset of the symbiosis, revealed by microarrays analysis, argues for a biphasic root colonization strategy of P. indica. Our finding provides a significant advance in understanding development of biotrophic plant symbionts and suggests a series of incremental shifts along the continuum from saprotrophy towards biotrophy in the evolution of mycorrhizal association from decomposer fungi.
ORGANISM(S): Serendipita indica
PROVIDER: GSE31266 | GEO | 2011/10/01
SECONDARY ACCESSION(S): PRJNA146023
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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