Stealing or living off crumbs: Exploitation of the mycorrhizal network by mycoheterotrophic plants

Pogany, Andras (2024) Stealing or living off crumbs: Exploitation of the mycorrhizal network by mycoheterotrophic plants. Bachelor's Thesis, Biology.

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Abstract

Mycorrhizal networks, though often unappreciated, play a crucial role in ecosystems by connecting over 90% of plant species worldwide, facilitating a symbiotic exchange of resources. Fungal symbionts provide water and soil nutrients for plants in exchange for photosynthesized sugars. However, some plants, known as mycoheterotrophs (MH), exploit this system by deriving both carbon and other nutrients from fungi, reversing the typical bidirectional flow. MH plants can be initial, partial, or fully mycoheterotrophic, with varying dependence on fungal carbon throughout their lifecycle. Despite the evolutionary occurrence of mycoheterotrophy in various plant taxa, the mechanisms behind this resource acquisition and its evolutionary drivers remain poorly understood. Recent research suggests that full MH plants might have evolved to exploit the "take now, pay later" strategy, allowing them to extend their dependency on fungal carbon without reciprocation. Alternatively, the sanctions imposed by fungi to prevent exploitation of trade may be ineffective, enabling MH plants to persist unnoticed. Another hypothesis posits that MH plants are “living off crumbs” without impacting fungal fitness by being small and having minimal carbon requirements, thus making sanctions unnecessary. Understanding the paradox of mycoheterotrophy—how these plants exploit fungal partners without apparent reciprocation—is essential. Future research should focus on the fitness consequences of mycoheterotrophy

Item Type:	Thesis (Bachelor's Thesis)
Supervisor name:	Veen, H. van
Degree programme:	Biology
Thesis type:	Bachelor's Thesis
Language:	English
Date Deposited:	31 Jul 2024 09:38
Last Modified:	31 Jul 2024 09:38
URI:	https://fse.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/33773

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