Speaker
Description
Even though exact ecology and trophic mode of Umbelopsis (Mucoromycota) representatives remain elusive, these fungi are considered soil saprotrophes, often associated with plant matter. Umbelopsis fungi interact frequently with bacteria, and Paraburkholderia are among the most common symbionts. This relationship is facultative, unlike previously described Mucoromycota- Burkholderiaceae interactions. So far, in-depth genomic characterizations are available only for strictly endohyphal bacteria and their mucoralean hosts. As non-obligatory interkingdom interactions are generally more common in nature, Umbelopsis-Paraburkholderia is a particularly good model for studying the evolution of endohyphal interactions. Here, we characterized genomes of both partners, adding close relatives as a reference dataset. Genomes were sequenced using MinION Nanopore and Illumina, then assembled and annotated. Even though studied Paraburkholderia genome is similar to genomes of its free-living relatives, it also contains genes needed for establishment and maintenance of endohyphal interaction, such as genes encoding diacylglycerol kinases. We also detected metabolic intertwinement in wood degrading capacities of both partners potential plant growth promotion factors in bacteria which suggests that the consortium is well adapted to develop in decaying wood from which it was isolated. It thus seems that although partners can live independently, together they may be able to occupy niches otherwise not available.
