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Chemotropism in the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus mosseae

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Abstract

In this work, we report the occurrence of chemotropism in the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus Glomus mosseae. Fungal hyphae were able to respond to host-derived signals by reorienting their growth towards roots and to perceive chemotropic signals at a distance of at least 910 μm from roots. In order to reach the source of chemotropic signals, hyphal tips crossed interposed membranes emerging within 1 mm from roots, eventually establishing mycorrhizal symbiosis. The specificity of chemotropic growth was evidenced by hyphal growth reorientation and membrane penetration occurring only in experimental systems set up with host plants. Since pre-symbiotic growth is a critical stage in the life cycle of obligate AM fungal symbionts, chemotropic guidance may represent an important mechanism functional to host root location, appressorium formation and symbiosis establishment.

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Notes

  1. The chemical nature of branching factors has been recently described (Akiyama et al. Nature 635:826–827).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Istituto di Biologia e Biotecnologia Agraria C.N.R., Via del Borghetto 80, 56124, Pisa, Italy

    C. Sbrana

  2. Dipartimento di Biologia delle Piante Agrarie, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124, Pisa, Italy

    M. Giovannetti

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  1. C. Sbrana
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  2. M. Giovannetti
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Correspondence to C. Sbrana.

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Sbrana, C., Giovannetti, M. Chemotropism in the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus mosseae. Mycorrhiza 15, 539–545 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00572-005-0362-5

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