Exploring the genome of glomeromycotan fungi

Abstract

The Glomeromycota form a complex but extremely successful group of root symbionts that have accompanied land plants through evolution and survived across periods of important environmental change. They form a distinct, heterogeneous and unusual ensemble within the fungal kingdom which is characterized by obligate biotrophy, multinucleate nature, large genomes and asexuality, features which have been obstacles to the analysis of the glomeromycotan genome and its functions. Recent targeted and high-throughput sequencing programmes have given access to a better understanding of nuclear and mitochondrial genome complexity, diversity and function in these organisms, but the lack of a stable transformation system remains a major drawback to their manipulation. This review gives an update on progress during the past decade in knowledge about structural, evolutionary and functional aspects of genomes in the Glomeromycota, and it points to avenues of research to more widely explore diversity and symbiotic attributes in this fascinating and unique phylum.