Mitochondrial genome evolution in parasitic plants
Abstract Background Parasitic plants rely on their host to cover their nutritional requirements either for their entire life or a smaller part of it. Depending on the level of parasitism, a proportional reduction on the plastid genome has been found. However, knowledge on gene loss and evolution of...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2019-04-01
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| Series: | BMC Evolutionary Biology |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12862-019-1401-8 |
| _version_ | 1818903532713017344 |
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| author | Athanasios Zervas Gitte Petersen Ole Seberg |
| author_facet | Athanasios Zervas Gitte Petersen Ole Seberg |
| author_sort | Athanasios Zervas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Parasitic plants rely on their host to cover their nutritional requirements either for their entire life or a smaller part of it. Depending on the level of parasitism, a proportional reduction on the plastid genome has been found. However, knowledge on gene loss and evolution of the mitogenome of parasitic plants is only available for four hemiparasitic Viscum species (Viscaceae), which lack many of the mitochondrial genes, while the remaining genes exhibit very fast molecular evolution rates. In this study, we include another genus, Phoradendron, from the Viscaceae, as well as 10 other hemiparasitic or holoparasitic taxa from across the phylogeny of the angiosperms to investigate how fast molecular evolution works on their mitogenomes, and the extent of gene loss. Results Our observations from Viscum were replicated in Phoradendron liga, whereas the remaining parasitic plants in the study have a complete set of the core mitochondrial genes and exhibit moderate or only slightly raised substitution rates compared to most autotrophic taxa, without any statistically significant difference between the different groups (autotrophs, hemiparasites and holoparasites). Additionally, further evidence is provided for the placement of Balanophoraceae within the order Santalales, while the exact placement of Cynomoriaceae still remains elusive. Conclusions We examine the mitochondrial gene content of 11 hemiparasitic and holoparasitic plants and confirm previous observations in Viscaceae. We show that the remaining parasitic plants do not have significantly higher substitution rates than autotrophic plants in their mitochondrial genes. We provide further evidence for the placement of Balanophoraceae in the Santalales. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T20:53:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-658ac78465c849c6a03c0eb6cf338125 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2148 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T20:53:03Z |
| publishDate | 2019-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Evolutionary Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-658ac78465c849c6a03c0eb6cf3381252022-12-21T20:06:03ZengBMCBMC Evolutionary Biology1471-21482019-04-0119111410.1186/s12862-019-1401-8Mitochondrial genome evolution in parasitic plantsAthanasios Zervas0Gitte Petersen1Ole Seberg2The Natural History Museum of Denmark, Faculty of Science, University of CopenhagenThe Natural History Museum of Denmark, Faculty of Science, University of CopenhagenThe Natural History Museum of Denmark, Faculty of Science, University of CopenhagenAbstract Background Parasitic plants rely on their host to cover their nutritional requirements either for their entire life or a smaller part of it. Depending on the level of parasitism, a proportional reduction on the plastid genome has been found. However, knowledge on gene loss and evolution of the mitogenome of parasitic plants is only available for four hemiparasitic Viscum species (Viscaceae), which lack many of the mitochondrial genes, while the remaining genes exhibit very fast molecular evolution rates. In this study, we include another genus, Phoradendron, from the Viscaceae, as well as 10 other hemiparasitic or holoparasitic taxa from across the phylogeny of the angiosperms to investigate how fast molecular evolution works on their mitogenomes, and the extent of gene loss. Results Our observations from Viscum were replicated in Phoradendron liga, whereas the remaining parasitic plants in the study have a complete set of the core mitochondrial genes and exhibit moderate or only slightly raised substitution rates compared to most autotrophic taxa, without any statistically significant difference between the different groups (autotrophs, hemiparasites and holoparasites). Additionally, further evidence is provided for the placement of Balanophoraceae within the order Santalales, while the exact placement of Cynomoriaceae still remains elusive. Conclusions We examine the mitochondrial gene content of 11 hemiparasitic and holoparasitic plants and confirm previous observations in Viscaceae. We show that the remaining parasitic plants do not have significantly higher substitution rates than autotrophic plants in their mitochondrial genes. We provide further evidence for the placement of Balanophoraceae in the Santalales.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12862-019-1401-8PhylogenyParasitic plantsSubstitution ratesEvolutionParasitismBalanophoraceae |
| spellingShingle | Athanasios Zervas Gitte Petersen Ole Seberg Mitochondrial genome evolution in parasitic plants BMC Evolutionary Biology Phylogeny Parasitic plants Substitution rates Evolution Parasitism Balanophoraceae |
| title | Mitochondrial genome evolution in parasitic plants |
| title_full | Mitochondrial genome evolution in parasitic plants |
| title_fullStr | Mitochondrial genome evolution in parasitic plants |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mitochondrial genome evolution in parasitic plants |
| title_short | Mitochondrial genome evolution in parasitic plants |
| title_sort | mitochondrial genome evolution in parasitic plants |
| topic | Phylogeny Parasitic plants Substitution rates Evolution Parasitism Balanophoraceae |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12862-019-1401-8 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT athanasioszervas mitochondrialgenomeevolutioninparasiticplants AT gittepetersen mitochondrialgenomeevolutioninparasiticplants AT oleseberg mitochondrialgenomeevolutioninparasiticplants |