Glomus intraradices

Taxonomy: Eukaryota; Fungi; Glomeromycota;Glomeromycetes; Glomerales; Glomeraceae; Glomus

Introduction

Glomus intraradices is an endomychorrhizal fungus. It’s a member of the arbuscular mycorrhiza who stimulate the growth and development of different plant spieces. Worldwide some 150 different species of endomychorrhizal fungi are described, most of which are members of the genus Glomus. These fungi penetrate cells of the root where they form the characteristic tree-like structured (arbuscular) organs for the exchange of sugars and nutrients with the host plant. Most of them also form bulb-like structures in and between root-cells. From the colonized roots outwards mycelia grow into the ground acting as a kind of extension of the root system.

Many of the Glomus-species can produce spores inside the root (e.g. Glomus intraradices), which are usually spread by animals. Arbuscular mycorrhiza are obligate biotrophic and can not reproduce outside a living host plant-root. In general they show a certain degree of host-specificity. It readily colonizes important species like maize, wheat, alfalfa, rice and key model plants such as Medicago truncatula, Lotus corniculatus, and the poplar tree Populus trichocarpa. Glomus intraradices is thought to have a relatively modest genome which is estimated to be around 15Mbp.

Our involvement

We are involved in the genome annotation of this species.

In collaboration with:

• Joint Genome Institute
• MycorWeb, Nancy, France