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Gigaspora gigantea

  • Kingdom: Fungi
  • Phylum: Glomeromycota
  • Class: Glomeromycetes
  • Order: Diversisporales
  • Family: Gigasporaceae
  • Genus: Gigaspora
  • Species: Gigaspora gigantea
(3)

pic (5)

Picture
A phylogeny of AM fungi found in the 50 m×50 m sampling grid, along with trait values for Root Colonization and Hyphal Length mapped to each taxon. Both traits were phylogenetically conserved. (9)
Description:
  • Is the characteristic species for Gigaspora, a genus known for its exceptionally large spores (2)
  • AM fungi are usually generalists: not restricted to a single host species (4)
  • Mutualistic symbionts that form arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) associations intracellularly within the roots of the vast majority of herbaceous plants and tropical trees(1)
  • Physically penetrate plant cortical cell walls and form arbuscules along the surfaces of cell membranes (1)
  • Receives photosynthetically derived carbon compounds from the plant in exchange for phosphorus and/or nitrogen, with this added resource efficiency, the plant’s tolerance for drought and nutrient-poor soils increases, as does its resistance to pathogens (2)
Picture
Schematic summary of the root colonization process by AM fungi (6)
Habitat(4):
  • Global distribution: has been found to occur in every continent except Antarctica
  • Has been found to associate with ferns on Atlantic dunes stretching from Quebec to Virginia
  • Known to associate with tropical tree hosts in southeastern Brazil
  • Tends to associate with trees that make carbon nutrients available in their roots during warm seasons
  • Also chooses plant hosts based on the chemical signals that they excrete
  • Colonization efficiency of AM fungi depends on soil nutrient level
  • Plants that are nutrient-stressed attract more AM fungi


PictureAM fungi in plant root (8)
Reproduction:
  • Spores are dispersed long distances by wind and water(4)
  • Active during warm seasons, sporulates in the winter at the end of its active phase(4)





Conservation Status(4):
  • Has been found to occur on every continent
Interesting Facts(4):
  • Plays an important ecological role in the cultivation of agricultural crop species (corn, carrot, grape, soybean)
  • Could be harnessed as a sustainable alternative to chemical fertilizer
  • AM fungi can promote the extraction of heavy metal pollutants

Summary of Research Article(7):
  
       The research article, Synergism between blue light and root exudate compounds and evidence for a second messenger in the hyphal branching response of Gigaspora gigantea, sought to answer the question: Do blue light and compounds from host root exudates interact to benefit the fungus?  A bioassay (previously developed in the Nagahashi and Douds 1995 study) was used to show that hyphal branching of Gigaspora gigantea can be synergistically stimulated with blue light (BL) and semi-purified photo-mimetic compounds (PCs) isolated from host root exudates.  The individual treatments of low levels of BL and diluted PCs were ineffective in stimulating hyphal branches but when given together, a synergistic response was observed.  The time at which PCs were applied was delayed after exposure to BL to investigate the stability of the second messenger.  When the PC was applied 1-3 hours post, a synergistic effect was observed, but 6 hours post, no synergy was observed.  It still must be determined whether light and chemical compounds have the same receptor or whether there are 2 separate receptors that initiate the same chain of events via the 2nd messenger.  


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