DOCSLIB.ORG

Monotropa</I> and <I>Monotropsis</I>: Two Mycohet

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Monotropa</I> and <I>Monotropsis</I>: Two Mycohet American Journal of Botany 96(7): 1337–1347. 2009. C OMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE REPRODUCTIVE ECOLOGY OF MONOTROPA AND MONOTROPSIS : TWO MYCOHETEROTROPHIC 1 GENERA IN THE MONOTROPOIDEAE (ERICACEAE) M ATTHEW R. KLOOSTER 2,3 AND THERESA M. CULLEY 2 2 Department of Biological Sciences University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio 45221-0006 Studies of mycoheterotrophs, defi ned as plants that obtain carbon resources from associated mycorrhizal fungi, have fundamen- tally contributed to our understanding of the importance and complexity of symbiotic ecological interactions. However, to date, the reproductive ecology of these organisms remains empirically understudied, with existing literature presenting hypotheses about traits including a generalist pollination syndrome and autogamous self-pollination. To address this gap in our knowledge of the reproductive ecology of mycoheterotrophic plants, we comparatively analyzed three species of two monotropoid genera, Monotropa and Monotropsis . During three consecutive years of fi eld observations and manipulations of four populations of Monotropa unifl ora , seven of M. hypopitys (both red and yellow color forms), and two of Monotropsis odorata , we investigated fl owering phenology, pollination ecology, breeding system, fl oral herbivory, and reproductive effort and output. Contrary to previ- ous predictions, our results revealed that taxa are largely outcross-pollinated and specialized toward Bombus pollinators. Addition- ally, species differ in breeding system, timing and duration of reproductive development, fl uctuations in reproductive effort and output, and fi tness impacts of herbivory. This study is the fi rst thorough investigation of the reproductive ecology of myco- heterotrophic species and provides insight into possible limitations in reproductive traits imposed by a mycoheterotrophic life history. Key words: breeding system; Ericaceae; Monotropa ; Monotropsis; mycoheterotroph; phenology; pollination; reproductive ecology. Mutualisms and symbioses are some of the most important vegetative structures and expensive photosynthetic pigmenta- ecological interactions driving ecosystem function, but these tion [Leake, 1994]), this evolutionary shift in life history to my- historically have been understudied. Mycoheterotrophy is an coheterotrophy has not come without costs. Consequences of important system of symbiotic interactions that has played a mycoheterotrophy include an obligatory reliance upon mycor- key role in our fundamental understanding of highly special- rhizal associations for carbon infl ux ( Bj ö rkman, 1960 ) and spe- ized ecological interactions and the evolutionary ecology of cialized habitat requirements for survival and propagation nonphotosynthetic plant biology ( Leake, 1994 ; Bidartondo, ( Luoma, 1987; Taylor and Bruns, 1999 ; Leake et al., 2004 ; 2005 ). Defi ned as plant species that obtain carbon resources Moola and Vasseur, 2004 ) that have contributed to rarity, isola- from obligate mycorrhizal associates, nonphotosynthetic myco- tion, and divergence among closely related taxa ( Kruckeberg heterotrophs are a phylogenetically, morphologically, and eco- and Rabinowitz, 1985 ; Bidartondo and Bruns, 2001 ; Taylor et logically diverse group of organisms that evolved from al., 2003 ). Although much is known about mycorrhizal symbio- photosynthetic ancestors ( Wallace, 1975 ; Leake, 1994 ; Cull- ses (e.g., Bidartondo and Bruns, 2001 , 2002 ) and the many con- ings et al., 1996; Bidartondo, 2005). While they are now free vergent life history traits shared by mycoheterotrophic taxa from some of the limitations of “ green ” plants (e.g., complex (e.g., reduced seed size and endosperm, loss of vegetative struc- tures, primary existence as a subterranean root mass [ Wallace, 1975 ; Olson, 1993 ; Leake, 1994 ]), the reproductive ecology of 1 Manuscript received 21 September 2008; revision accepted 21 February these scientifi cally valuable organisms remains empirically 2009. understudied. The authors extend special thanks to M. Becus, D. Boone, E. Buschbeck, In a recent review, Bidartondo (2005) highlighted this gap in D. Conover, B. and G. Culbertson, J. Decker, M. Dodson, S. Dunford, J. E. our understanding of mycoheterotroph reproduction and sug- Klooster, S. Lockwood, E. Maurer, R. Olson, M. Pistrang, V. Soukup, and gested that the limitations of the highly specialized life history D. Taylor for providing support and resources necessary to locate populations and conduct these analyses. They are grateful to M. Bidartondo of mycoheterotrophs may provide direct insight into possible and two anonymous reviewers for critical advice on this manuscript. They reproductive traits of these plants. Bidartondo suggested that it also thank the staff of Cherokee National Forest, Daniel Boone National would be an evolutionarily unstable strategy for a myco- Forest, Germantown MetroPark, The Nature Conservancy, Ohio Department heterotroph already engaged in an obligate symbiotic interac- of Natural Resources; the Culberson family; and the Lockwood family for tion to assume additional compulsory associations, including permission to study these species and for access to populations. Funding those related to reproduction. Subsequently, such taxa would be for this research was made possible through the University Research expected to possess a reproductive ecology free from further Council Fellowship and the Weiman, Wendel, Benedict Award offered by specialization, as evident by traits such as a generalist pollina- the University of Cincinnati to M.R.K. tion syndrome and/or autogamous self-pollination. To date, we 3 Author for correspondence (e-mail: [email protected]); present address: Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, are not aware of any other study that has experimentally ad- Harvard University Herbaria, 22 Divinity Ave., Cambridge, Massachusetts dressed Bidartondo ’ s ideas; existing information consists 02138 USA largely of anecdotal reports of “pollinator ” visitations, informal assessments of breeding systems, and hypothetical commentary doi:10.3732/ajb.0800319 on possible reproductive traits (e.g., Wallace, 1977; Leake, 1337 1338 AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY [Vol. 96 1994 ; Imamura and Ushimaru, 2007; Ushimaru and Imamura, nodding position and, upon fertilization, assume an erect orientation ( Wallace, 2002 ). To empirically address this fundamental gap in our un- 1975 ). Fruits are dry capsules that contain seeds with wing-like integuments for derstanding of mycoheterotroph reproductive traits, we targeted wind dispersal ( Olson, 1980 ). Within the species M. hypopitys are two distinct color forms, yellow and red, causing much confusion among taxonomists. Once the Monotropoideae (Ericaceae) as an ideal study system. classifi ed as separate species, these color forms are currently thought to simply The Monotropoideae is an entirely nonphotosynthetic sub- represent natural color variation within the species without any distinct ecologi- family with many species having narrow geographic ranges and cal function ( Wallace, 1975 , 1977 ). Because the red and yellow forms have endemism ( Kruckeberg and Rabinowitz, 1985 ) that likely cor- unique fl owering phenologies ( Neyland, 2004 ), rarely occur in sympatry, and relate with the limited distribution of their specialized mycor- are ecologically understudied, we treated each form as a separate experimental rhizal associates ( Bidartondo and Bruns, 2001 ). Most genera unit and separate taxa in this study. Another related taxon with unique reproductive traits is the monotypic genus are morphologically distinct in traits such as color and size of Monotropsis. Monotropsis odorata (sweet pine sap or pygme pipes) is a rare reproductive stems, fl ower number per stem, fl oral fragrance, endemic of the Appalachian Mountains and southeastern United States and is pollen morphology, seed shape, and fruit type (e.g., Copeland, presently listed as threatened or endangered by four states of its limited range 1935 , 1937 , 1938 , 1939 ; Bakshi, 1959 ; Wallace, 1975 , 1977 ; (USDA NRCS, 2009). Found almost exclusively growing in upland, mixed Leake, 1994 ). Additionally, the Monotropoideae has been used oak – pine forests ( Jones, 2005 ), these plants possess coralline roots, which pro- as a model system in pioneering studies of plant – fungal sym- duce one to many reproductive stems that stand 5 –10 cm tall ( Wolf, 1922 ; Cope- land, 1939). Known for their highly fragrant fl owers (similar to baking cloves), bioses (Bj ö rkman, 1960) and for reconciling other myco- these plants are notoriously diffi cult to visually locate due to their small stature heterotrophic life history traits including the complexity of and the seemingly cryptic, brownish bracts and sepals covering the reproductive plant – mycorrhizal associations ( Bidartondo and Bruns, 2001 , stems and encircling each fl ower (M. Klooster, D. Clark [Alma College], and 2002 ; Yang and Pfi ster, 2006 ), developmental biology ( Olson, T. Culley, unpublished manuscript). Flowers are deep pink to lavender, typically 1990 , 1991 , 1993 ), and life history chronology ( Leake et al., with a white tip, and after fertilization, form indehiscent, fl eshy fruits with seeds 2004 ; Bidartondo and Bruns, 2005 ). that are animal dispersed ( Wallace, 1975 ; Leake, 1994 ). The goal of this study was to thoroughly investigate and Site description and sampling— Populations of each taxon were identifi ed compare the reproductive strategies of related mycoheterotrophic in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky,
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Monotropa Hypopitys L. Yellow Bird's-Nest
    Monotropa hypopitys L. Yellow Bird's-nest Starting references Family Monotropaceae IUCN category (2001) Endangered. Habit Saprophytic ± chlorophyll-less perennial herb. Habitat Leaf litter in shaded woodlands, most frequent under Fagus and Corylus on calcareous substrates, and under Pinus on more acidic soils. Also in damp dune-slacks, where it is usually associated with Salix repens. From 0-395 m. Reasons for decline Distribution in wild Country Locality & Vice County Sites Population (10km2 occurences) (plants) Scotland East Perth 1 Fife & Kinross 1 England North-east Yorkshire 1 West Lancashire 1 S. Northumberland 1 Leicestershire 1 Nottinghamshire 2 Derbyshire 2 S. Lancashire 5 Westmorland 2 South Devon 1 N. Somerset 3 S. Wiltshire 2 Dorset 1 Isle of Wight 2 Hampshire 10 Sussex 3 Kent 3 Surrey 6 Berkshire 5 Oxfordshire 5 Buckinghamshire 4 Suffolk 2 Norfolk 5 Bedfordshire 1 Northamptonshire 1 Gloucestershire 7 Monmouthshire 3 Herefordshire 1 Worcestershire 1 Warwickshire 1 Staffordshire 2 Shropshire 1 Wales Glamorgan 1 Carmarthenshire 4 Merioneth 2 Denbighshire 2 Anglesey 4 Ex situ Collections Gardens close to the region of distribution of the species 1 University of Dundee Botanic Garden 2 Branklyn Garden (NTS) 3 St Andrews Botanic Garden 4 Moor Bank Garden 5 University of Durham Botanic Garden 6 Yorkshire Museum & Gardens 7 Sheffield Botanical Gardens 8 Firs Botanical Grounds 9 University of Manchester Botanical & Exp. Grounds 10 City of Liverpool Botanic Gardens 11 Ness Botanic Gardens 12 Chester Zoological Gardens 13 Treborth Botanic
    [Show full text]
  • Seeds of Oxyccocus Palustris Pers. from Ericaceae Family
    Biology of germination of medicinal plant seeds. Part XXIII: Seeds of Oxyccocus palustris Pers. from Ericaceae family WALDEMAR BUCHWALD*, JAN KOZŁOWSKI, ELŻBIETA BILIŃSKA The Branch of Medicinal Plants of the Institute of Natural Fibres and Medicinal Plants Libelta 27 61-707 Poznań, Poland *corresponding author: [email protected], phone: +4861 6517190, fax: +4861 6517192 S u m m a r y At the beginning a short characteristic of Ericaceae family is elaborated then the biology of seeds germination of Oxyccocus palustris Pers. is described. In this experiments, the opti- mal condition of ability of germination of Oxyccocus palustris Pers. was established. It was found that the light and variable temperature (30oC over 8 hours, 20oC over 16 hours) were optimal for analysis of Oxyccocus palustris seed germination ability. The results also show that the pre-sowing treatments (stratification) were significant to obtain a higher percent of germinating seeds in comparison to non-stratified seeds. The capacity of germination of Oxyccocus palustris Pers. seeds stored in unheated room conditions gradually decreased in the first year after harvest. The viability of Oxyccocus palustris seeds is very short. Three years after harvest time, the seeds do not germinate. Key words: Ericaceae family, Oxyccocus palustris Pers., germination, seeds INTRODUCTION The characteristics of Ericaceae family In Poland 15 species from 10 genera belonging to Ericaceae family are noticed [1-5]. It is relatively few taxa in comparison to 82 genera and to over 2,500 species widespread all over the world. The plants appear as a dwarf shrub, sub-shrub, shrub or a small tree, usually with alternating leathery and often evergreen leaves.
    [Show full text]
  • Flowering Plant Families of Northwestern California: a Tabular Comparison
    Humboldt State University Digital Commons @ Humboldt State University Botanical Studies Open Educational Resources and Data 12-2019 Flowering Plant Families of Northwestern California: A Tabular Comparison James P. Smith Jr Humboldt State University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/botany_jps Part of the Botany Commons Recommended Citation Smith, James P. Jr, "Flowering Plant Families of Northwestern California: A Tabular Comparison" (2019). Botanical Studies. 95. https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/botany_jps/95 This Flora of Northwest California-Regional is brought to you for free and open access by the Open Educational Resources and Data at Digital Commons @ Humboldt State University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Botanical Studies by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Humboldt State University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. FLOWERING PLANT FAMILIES OF NORTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA: A TABULAR COMPARISON James P. Smith, Jr. Professor Emeritus of Botany Department of Biological Sciences Humboldt State University December 2019 Scientific Name Habit Leaves Sexuality • Floral Formula Common Name Fruit Type • Comments Aceraceae TSV SC:O U-m [P] • K 4-5 C 4-5 A 4-10 G (2) Maple Paired samaras • leaves often palmately lobed Acoraceae H S:A U-m • P 3+3 A 6 or G (3) Sweet Flag Berry • aquatic; aromatic rhizomes Aizoaceae HS S:AO B • P [3] 5 [8] A 0-4 Gsi (2-5-4) Ice Plant Capsule (berry-like) • fleshy; stamens divided, petaloid Alismataceae
    [Show full text]
  • The Genomic Impact of Mycoheterotrophy in Orchids
    fpls-12-632033 June 8, 2021 Time: 12:45 # 1 ORIGINAL RESEARCH published: 09 June 2021 doi: 10.3389/fpls.2021.632033 The Genomic Impact of Mycoheterotrophy in Orchids Marcin J ˛akalski1, Julita Minasiewicz1, José Caius2,3, Michał May1, Marc-André Selosse1,4† and Etienne Delannoy2,3*† 1 Department of Plant Taxonomy and Nature Conservation, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdansk,´ Gdansk,´ Poland, 2 Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, INRAE, Univ Evry, Orsay, France, 3 Université de Paris, CNRS, INRAE, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France, 4 Sorbonne Université, CNRS, EPHE, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité, Paris, France Mycoheterotrophic plants have lost the ability to photosynthesize and obtain essential mineral and organic nutrients from associated soil fungi. Despite involving radical changes in life history traits and ecological requirements, the transition from autotrophy Edited by: Susann Wicke, to mycoheterotrophy has occurred independently in many major lineages of land Humboldt University of Berlin, plants, most frequently in Orchidaceae. Yet the molecular mechanisms underlying this Germany shift are still poorly understood. A comparison of the transcriptomes of Epipogium Reviewed by: Maria D. Logacheva, aphyllum and Neottia nidus-avis, two completely mycoheterotrophic orchids, to other Skolkovo Institute of Science autotrophic and mycoheterotrophic orchids showed the unexpected retention of several and Technology, Russia genes associated with photosynthetic activities. In addition to these selected retentions, Sean W. Graham, University of British Columbia, the analysis of their expression profiles showed that many orthologs had inverted Canada underground/aboveground expression ratios compared to autotrophic species. Fatty Craig Barrett, West Virginia University, United States acid and amino acid biosynthesis as well as primary cell wall metabolism were among *Correspondence: the pathways most impacted by this expression reprogramming.
    [Show full text]
  • Ericaceae Five Petals, Sometimes Free, Though Usually the Heather Family Fused Together to Form a Tube, Bell Or Urn
    RHS GENEALOGY FOR GARDENERS EUDICOTS sepals, free or fused at the base, and four or Ericaceae five petals, sometimes free, though usually The heather family fused together to form a tube, bell or urn. The stamens are in whorls of four or five and Hugely useful in the garden, this family of mainly woody plants includes the heathers the pollen is released from the anthers by (Calluna, Erica, Daboecia), azaleas, rhododendrons, wintergreens (Gaultheria), way of pores at the tips. Pieris and mountain laurels (Kalmia). Commercially significant crops include Fruit blueberries and cranberries (Vaccinium). Fruits are typically dry capsules, though fleshy Size Origins fruits, such as blueberries, are not uncommon. One of the larger families, the Ericaceae contains Earliest evidence of this family dates to the Late Leaves over 3,850 species. Within this great diversity are Cretaceous (about 90 million years ago). Fossils many small genera with one or two species, and suggest that Ericaceae was once more diverse in Most Ericaceae have evergreen, alternate leaves and Vaccinium corymbosum, three titans; Rhododendron (with 1,000 species), Europe, which was home to genera now restricted no stipules. Some species, such as many azaleas, highbush blueberry Erica (850 species) and Vaccinium (500 species). to Asia and/or America. are deciduous, while opposite and whorled leaf It should be noted that azaleas are included arrangements are also known. Leaf margins are within Rhododendron. Flowers entire, toothed or curled under, and some species USES FOR THIS FAMILY (including many rhododendrons) have dense hair Great floral diversity is encompassed by this or scales on the lower surfaces.
    [Show full text]
  • Diversity of Fungal Assemblages in Roots of Ericaceae in Two
    Diversity of fungal assemblages in roots of Ericaceae in two Mediterranean contrasting ecosystems Ahlam Hamim, Lucie Miche, Ahmed Douaik, Rachid Mrabet, Ahmed Ouhammou, Robin Duponnois, Mohamed Hafidi To cite this version: Ahlam Hamim, Lucie Miche, Ahmed Douaik, Rachid Mrabet, Ahmed Ouhammou, et al.. Diversity of fungal assemblages in roots of Ericaceae in two Mediterranean contrasting ecosystems. Comptes Rendus Biologies, Elsevier Masson, 2017, 340 (4), pp.226-237. 10.1016/j.crvi.2017.02.003. hal- 01681523 HAL Id: hal-01681523 https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01681523 Submitted on 23 Apr 2018 HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci- destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents entific research documents, whether they are pub- scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, lished or not. The documents may come from émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de teaching and research institutions in France or recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires abroad, or from public or private research centers. publics ou privés. See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/315062117 Diversity of fungal assemblages in roots of Ericaceae in two Mediterranean contrasting ecosystems Article in Comptes rendus biologies · March 2017 DOI: 10.1016/j.crvi.2017.02.003 CITATIONS READS 0 37 7 authors, including: Ahmed Douaik Rachid Mrabet Institut National de Recherche Agronomique
    [Show full text]
  • Final Report
    Report: Les Mehrhoff Botanical Research Award, 2019 Testing the influence of land-use history and forest stand age on the distribution and abundance of parasitic plants at multiple scales Marion Andrews Holmes Background The herbaceous layer makes up over 80% of the plant biodiversity in Eastern Forests and includes a wide variety of life history adaptations (Spicer et al. 2020). Some species found on the forest floor do not conduct photosynthesis, but rather obtain carbon from other organisms. The category of non-photosynthetic plants includes both parasitic species and saprophytes, or plants that feed on dead material. Parasitic relationships may be formed with other vascular plant species or through mycoheterotrophy, a form of parasitism in which species obtain carbon through networks of mycorrhizal fungi (Furman and Trappe 1971, Bidartondo 2005, Leake and Cameron 2010). Some parasites of vascular plants also require the presence of fungal partners for successful establishment (Baird and Riopel 1986). Parasitic plants contribute to ground-layer biodiversity, support wildlife (Johnson et al. 1995), and are a useful model system for testing the influence of host and symbiont- limitation in forest succession. Most deciduous forest in Eastern North America and Northern Europe is second-growth that has regrown after clearance for agriculture and subsequent abandonment (Williams 1989, Hermy and Verheyen 2007). It is therefore necessary to place our understanding of forest ecology in the context of land-use history (Foster et al. 2003). Land-use legacies shape the structure and composition of modern forests, and their effects may last for centuries (Motzkin et al. 1996, Dupouey et al.
    [Show full text]
  • Checklist of the Vascular Plants of Redwood National Park
    Humboldt State University Digital Commons @ Humboldt State University Botanical Studies Open Educational Resources and Data 9-17-2018 Checklist of the Vascular Plants of Redwood National Park James P. Smith Jr Humboldt State University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/botany_jps Part of the Botany Commons Recommended Citation Smith, James P. Jr, "Checklist of the Vascular Plants of Redwood National Park" (2018). Botanical Studies. 85. https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/botany_jps/85 This Flora of Northwest California-Checklists of Local Sites is brought to you for free and open access by the Open Educational Resources and Data at Digital Commons @ Humboldt State University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Botanical Studies by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Humboldt State University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. A CHECKLIST OF THE VASCULAR PLANTS OF THE REDWOOD NATIONAL & STATE PARKS James P. Smith, Jr. Professor Emeritus of Botany Department of Biological Sciences Humboldt State Univerity Arcata, California 14 September 2018 The Redwood National and State Parks are located in Del Norte and Humboldt counties in coastal northwestern California. The national park was F E R N S established in 1968. In 1994, a cooperative agreement with the California Department of Parks and Recreation added Del Norte Coast, Prairie Creek, Athyriaceae – Lady Fern Family and Jedediah Smith Redwoods state parks to form a single administrative Athyrium filix-femina var. cyclosporum • northwestern lady fern unit. Together they comprise about 133,000 acres (540 km2), including 37 miles of coast line. Almost half of the remaining old growth redwood forests Blechnaceae – Deer Fern Family are protected in these four parks.
    [Show full text]
  • Conservation Strategy for Allotropa Virgata (Candystick), U.S
    CONSERVATION STRATEGY FOR ALLOTROPA VIRGATA (CANDYSTICK), U.S. FOREST SERVICE, NORTHERN AND INTERMOUNTAIN REGIONS by Juanita Lichthardt Conservation Data Center Natural Resource Policy Bureau October, 1995 Idaho Department of Fish and Game 600 South Walnut, P.O. Box 25 Boise, Idaho 83707 Jerry M. Conley, Director Cooperative Challenge Cost-share Project Nez Perce National Forest Idaho Department of Fish and Game Purchase Order No.:95-17-20-001 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I am grateful to the following Forest Service sensitive plant coordinators and botanists who went out of their way to provide valuable consultation, maps, and data: Leonard Lake, Linda Pietarinen, Jim Anderson, Quinn Carver, Alexia Cochrane, and John Joy. These same people are largely responsible for our current level of knowledge about Allotropa virgata. Special thanks to Janet Johnson and Marilyn Olson who found the time to show me Allotropa sites on the Bitterroot and Payette National Forests, respectively. Steve Shelly, Montana Natural Heritage Program/US Forest Service, initiated this project and provided thoughtful review. I hope that this document provides both the practical guidance and theoretical basis needed for a coordinated effort by management agencies toward conservation of Allotropa virgata. i ABSTRACT This conservation strategy provides recommendations for management of National Forest lands supporting and adjoining populations of Allotropa virgata (candystick), a plant species designated as sensitive in Regions 1 and 4 of the US Forest Service. Allotropa virgata presents a special conservation challenge because it is part of a three-way symbiosis involving conifers and their ectomycorrhizal fungi. First, the current state of our knowledge of the species is summarized, including distribution, habitat, ecology, population biology, monitoring results, past impacts, and perceived threats.
    [Show full text]
  • Flora of the Carolinas, Virginia, and Georgia, Working Draft of 17 March 2004 -- ERICACEAE
    Flora of the Carolinas, Virginia, and Georgia, Working Draft of 17 March 2004 -- ERICACEAE ERICACEAE (Heath Family) A family of about 107 genera and 3400 species, primarily shrubs, small trees, and subshrubs, nearly cosmopolitan. The Ericaceae is very important in our area, with a great diversity of genera and species, many of them rather narrowly endemic. Our area is one of the north temperate centers of diversity for the Ericaceae. Along with Quercus and Pinus, various members of this family are dominant in much of our landscape. References: Kron et al. (2002); Wood (1961); Judd & Kron (1993); Kron & Chase (1993); Luteyn et al. (1996)=L; Dorr & Barrie (1993); Cullings & Hileman (1997). Main Key, for use with flowering or fruiting material 1 Plant an herb, subshrub, or sprawling shrub, not clonal by underground rhizomes (except Gaultheria procumbens and Epigaea repens), rarely more than 3 dm tall; plants mycotrophic or hemi-mycotrophic (except Epigaea, Gaultheria, and Arctostaphylos). 2 Plants without chlorophyll (fully mycotrophic); stems fleshy; leaves represented by bract-like scales, white or variously colored, but not green; pollen grains single; [subfamily Monotropoideae; section Monotropeae]. 3 Petals united; fruit nodding, a berry; flower and fruit several per stem . Monotropsis 3 Petals separate; fruit erect, a capsule; flower and fruit 1-several per stem. 4 Flowers few to many, racemose; stem pubescent, at least in the inflorescence; plant yellow, orange, or red when fresh, aging or drying dark brown ...............................................Hypopitys 4 Flower solitary; stem glabrous; plant white (rarely pink) when fresh, aging or drying black . Monotropa 2 Plants with chlorophyll (hemi-mycotrophic or autotrophic); stems woody; leaves present and well-developed, green; pollen grains in tetrads (single in Orthilia).
    [Show full text]
  • The Loss of Photosynthetic Pathways in the Plastid and Nuclear Genomes of the Non- Photosynthetic Mycoheterotrophic Eudicot Monotropa Hypopitys Nikolai V
    The Author(s) BMC Plant Biology 2016, 16(Suppl 3):238 DOI 10.1186/s12870-016-0929-7 RESEARCH Open Access The loss of photosynthetic pathways in the plastid and nuclear genomes of the non- photosynthetic mycoheterotrophic eudicot Monotropa hypopitys Nikolai V. Ravin*, Eugeny V. Gruzdev, Alexey V. Beletsky, Alexander M. Mazur, Egor B. Prokhortchouk, Mikhail A. Filyushin, Elena Z. Kochieva, Vitaly V. Kadnikov, Andrey V. Mardanov and Konstantin G. Skryabin From The International Conference on Bioinformatics of Genome Regulation and Structure\Systems Biology (BGRS\SB-2016) Novosibirsk, Russia. 29 August-2 September 2016 Abstract Background: Chloroplasts of most plants are responsible for photosynthesis and contain a conserved set of about 110 genes that encode components of housekeeping gene expression machinery and photosynthesis-related functions. Heterotrophic plants obtaining nutrients from other organisms and their plastid genomes represent model systems in which to study the effects of relaxed selective pressure on photosynthetic function. The most evident is a reduction in the size and gene content of the plastome, which correlates with the loss of genes encoding photosynthetic machinery which become unnecessary. Transition to a non-photosynthetic lifestyle is expected also to relax the selective pressure on photosynthetic machinery in the nuclear genome, however, the corresponding changes are less known. Results: Here we report the complete sequence of the plastid genome of Monotropa hypopitys, an achlorophyllous obligately mycoheterotrophic plant belonging to the family Ericaceae. The plastome of M. hypopitys is greatly reduced in size (35,336 bp) and lacks the typical quadripartite structure with two single-copy regions and an inverted repeat.
    [Show full text]
  • Pigment Composition of Putatively Achlorophyllous Angiosperms
    Plant Pl. Syst. Evol. 210:105-111 (1998) Systematics and Evolution © Springer-Verlag 1998 Printed in Austria Pigment composition of putatively achlorophyllous angiosperms MICHAEL P. CUMMINGS and NICHOLAS A. WELSCHMEYER Received August 15, 1996; in revised version February 10, 1997 Key words: Angiospermae, Lennoaceae, Monotropaceae, Orobanchaceae, Orchidaceae. - Chlorophyll, carotenoid, pigment, high-performance liquid chromatography. Abstract: Chlorophyll and carotenoid pigment composition was determined for ten species of putatively achlorophyllous angiosperms using high-performance liquid chromatography. Four families were represented: Lennoaceae (Pholisma arenarium); Monotropaceae (Allotropa virgata, Monotropa uniflora, Pterospora andromedea, Sarcodes sanguinea); Orobanchaceae (Epifagus virginiana, Orobanche cooperi, O. unißora); Orchidaceae (Cephalanthera austinae, Corallorhiza maculata). Chlorophyll a was detected in all taxa, but chlorophyll b was only detected in Corallorhiza maculata. The relative amount of chlorophyll and chlorophyll-related pigments in these plants is greatly reduced compared to fully autotrophic angiosperms. One of the most conspicuous features of plants is green coloration conferred by the presence of the pigment chlorophyll. However achlorophyllous plants, as their name implies, are thought to lack chlorophyll and other pigments associated with photosynthesis. This lack of chlorophyll is thought to be associated with the nonphotosynthetic habit, and hence the completely heterotrophic nature of holoparasites
    [Show full text]