Details of a Gigaspora margarita spore, with subtending hypha. Image credit: Mara Novero

The genome sequence and gene models provided here were not determined by the Joint Genome Institute (JGI), but were downloaded from NCBI on September 21st, 2021. In order to allow comparative analyses with other fungal genomes sequenced by the JGI, a copy of this genome is incorporated into Mycocosm.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis involves 72% of vascular plants and an ancient group of fungi belonging to the Glomeromycotina (arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, AMF) that enhance host fitness by improving mineral nutrition and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. AMF are important members of the plant microbiota, being present in the rhizosphere and inside roots tissues as obligate symbionts. As many other fungi, AMF also possess their own microbiota, often hosting uncultivable endobacteria inside their cytoplasm. AMF genomes, therefore, offer an unexplored source for investigating the evolution of inter-kingdom interactions among plants, fungi and bacteria.

Gigaspora margarita BEG34
The AMF species Gigaspora margarita may host Burkholderia‐related Endobacteria (BRE) and Mycoplasma-related endobacteria (MRE) communities, as well as viral sequences. Venice et al sequenced the genome of Gigaspora margarita BEG34, a member of the Gigasporaceae in an early diverging group of the Glomeromycotina. In contrast to other isolates, G. margarita BEG34 hosts only one BRE endobacterial population and possesses one of the largest fungal genomes so far annotated (773.104 Mbp). Other unique traits of the G. margarita genome include the expansion of genes for inorganic phosphate metabolism, the presence of genes for production of secondary metabolites, and a considerable number of potential horizontal gene transfer events.