Morphological and functional stasis in mycorrhizal root nodules as exhibited by a Triassic conifer

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1110677108
• Publication Date: 2011-08-02T04:20:20Z
• Authors: Andrew B. Schwend...; Anne-Laure Decombeix; Thomas N. Taylor; Edith L. Taylor; Michael Krings
• Keywords: 0106 biological sciences; 570; Fossils; [SDV.BID.EVO]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Biodiversity/Populations and Evolution [q-bio.PE]; Antarctic Regions; [SDV.BV.BOT]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Vegetal Biology/Botanics; 15. Life on land; [SDV.BID.SPT]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Biodiversity/Systematics, Phylogenetics and taxonomy; Plant Roots; 01 natural sciences; [SDV.BV.BOT] Life Sciences [q-bio]/Vegetal Biology/Botanics; Soil; Tracheophyta; Mycorrhizae; [SDV.BID.SPT] Life Sciences [q-bio]/Biodiversity/Systematics, Phylogenetics and taxonomy; [SDV.BID.EVO] Life Sciences [q-bio]/Biodiversity/Populations and Evolution [q-bio.PE]; Antarctica; [SDU.STU.PG] Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences/Paleontology; Glomeromycota; [SDU.STU.PG]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences/Paleontology; Root Nodules, Plant; Symbiosis

Mycorrhizal root nodules occur in the conifer families Araucariaceae, Podocarpaceae, and Sciadopityaceae. Although fossil record of these can be traced back into early Mesozoic, oldest evidence previously came from Cretaceous. Here we report on cellularly preserved Notophytum Middle Triassic permineralized peat Antarctica. These contain fungal arbuscules, hyphal coils, vesicles their cortex. Numerous glomoid-type spores are found matrix surrounding nodules. This discovery indicates that mutualistic associations between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi date to at least period during which most modern first appeared. predate next known appearance this association by 100 million years, indicating specialized form symbiosis has ancient origins.