Fungal symbiosis and heterochrony involved in gametophyte evolutions of primitive vascular plants, monilophytes.

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K07200
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Biodiversity/Systematics
• Research Institution: Japan Women's University
• Principal Investigator: Imaichi Ryoko 日本女子大学, 理学部, 研究員 (60112752)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 海老原 淳 独立行政法人国立科学博物館, 植物研究部, 研究主幹 (20435738) ; 辻田 有紀 佐賀大学, 農学部, 准教授 (80522523) ; 藤浪 理恵子 日本女子大学, 理学部, 研究員 (40580725)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: シダ植物 / 配偶体 / 菌根菌 / アーバスキュラー菌 / 共生 / 進化 / ハビタット

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Fern gametophytes are colonized with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. AM fungal colonization levels appear to be correlated with habitats, where gametophytes are growing; terrestrial gametophytes show high level of AM colonization, while epiphytic ones show low level. To clarify habitual relationships between fern gametophytes and AM fungi, we performed experimental co-cultivations of fern gametophytes and AM fungi. Fern gametophytes examined were classified to three groups: (1) AM infection rates show 100%, and infected gametophytes are much larger in size than uninfected gametophytes, (2) AM infection rates were 50-100% , but infected gametophytes are not significantly larger in size than uninfected gametophytes, and (3) AM infection rates show 0%. Gametophytes in the group (1) and (2) probably have high and relatively low nutritional dependence on AM fungi, respectively. In contrast, gametophytes in the group (3) rather may have a certain system to avoid fungal infection.

Free Research Field

植物形態学