Evolution of plant heterotrophy from autotrophy in plant-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi mutualistic systems.

In this study, we focused on plant-fungal relationships, partnership changes, and physiological mechanisms of carbon transfer in myco-heterotrophic plant-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi interactions and conducted comprehensive analyses of the evolution of heterotrophy in plants. Molecular identifications showed that myco-heterotrophic plants and Gentiana zollingeri have mycorrhizal fungi of Glomus group A and the same fungi were found from some photosynthetic plant, especially plants belonging to Ophioglossaceae with high colonization rates. Partial sequences of hydrocarbon transporter genes from mycorrhizal fungi of myco-heterotrophic plants andG. zollingeri had no differentiations associated with trophic modes. However, there were possible differentiations in expression level of the genes between heterotrophic and autotrophic plants.