J. HOEKSEMA : Mycorrhizal coevolution and community genetics of Pinus

Abstract

Does coevolution matter in diverse species interactions?  Investigations of mycorrhizal coevolution and community genetics in Pinus

Coevolution has been shown to drive divergence in species traits at multiple scales, especially in pairwise interactions.  However, we have very little evidence to assess whether coevolution is important in diverse species interactions, or to assess the relative importance of coevolution compared to non-reciprocal selection from biotic and abiotic sources.  To address these deficiencies, results are presented from a series of experimental studies on pines (Pinus spp.) and their ectomycorrhizal fungi. Results to date have demonstrated substantial heritability for candidate coevolving traits in both plants and fungi, which is a pre-requisite for natural selection on these traits. Results also provide evidence for G x G interactions within and among fungal populations, suggesting the potential for coevolution, although latitudinal clines for multiple plant and fungal traits suggest the importance of direct selection from abiotic factors.  Patterns of genetic correlation among multiple pine traits suggest that plants may be able to evolve independently in response to different mycorrhizal fungal species, although there may be conflicting natural selection on shared genes controlling symbiosis traits and other traits in pines. Altogether, experimental results are consistent with the hypothesis that geographically variable selection by biotic and abiotic factors, and possibly coevolution, are acting in concert to drive ongoing divergence of traits in pines and ectomycorrhizal fungi.

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