Sequential horizontal gene transfers from different hosts in a widespread Eurasian parasitic plant, Cynomorium coccineum

Abstract

Premise Parasitic plants with large geographic ranges, and different hosts in parts of their range, may acquire horizontally transferred genes (HGTs), which might sometimes leave a footprint of gradual host and range expansion. Cynomorium coccineum, the only member of the Saxifragales family Cynomoriaceae, is a root holoparasite that occurs in water‐stressed habitats from western China to the Canary Islands. It parasitizes at least 10 angiosperm families from different orders, some of them only in parts of its range. This parasite therefore offers an opportunity to trace HGTs as long as parasite–host pairs can be obtained and sequenced. Methods By sequencing mitochondrial, plastid, and nuclear loci from parasite–host pairs from throughout the parasite's range and with prior information from completely assembled mitochondrial and plastid genomes, we detected 10 HGTs of five mitochondrial genes. Results The 10 HGTs appear to have occurred sequentially as C. coccineum expanded from East to West. Molecular‐clock models yield Cynomorium stem ages between 66 and 156 Myr, with relaxed clocks converging on 66–67 Myr. Chinese Sapindales, probably Nitraria, were the first source of transferred genes, followed by Iranian and Mediterranean Caryophyllales. The most recently acquired gene appears to come from a Tamarix host in the Iberian Peninsula. Conclusions Data on HGTs that have accumulated over the past 15 years, along with this discovery of multiple HGTs within a single widespread species, underline the need for more whole‐genome data from parasite–host pairs to investigate whether and how transferred copies coexist with, or replace, native functional genes.

The Modern Use of an Ancient Plant: Exploring the Antioxidant and Nutraceutical Potential of the Maltese Mushroom (Cynomorium Coccineum L.)

“…coccineum and C. coccineum subsp. songaricum [10,11]. For the sake of clarity and to be consistent with the recent phytochemical literature on Cynomorium , in the present review, C. coccineum subsp.…”

Mitochondrial genome of the nonphotosynthetic mycoheterotrophic plant Hypopitys monotropa, its structure, gene expression and RNA editing

“…As mentioned above, plant mitochondrial genomes are prone to HGT. It is often detected from the incongruence of phylogenetic trees based on different genome regions (Bergthorsson et al, 2004;Cusimano & Renner, 2019). We performed phylogenetic analysis of individual mitochondrial genes and found that the topologies were similar with regard to the placement of H. monotropa-it is always placed together with V. macrocarpon (excluding the cases of unresolved nodes) (see Fig.…”

Mitochondrial genome of non-photosynthetic mycoheterotrophic plant Hypopitys monotropa,its structure, gene expression and RNA editing

“…As mentioned above, plant mitochondrial genomes are prone to HGT. It is often detected by incongruence of phylogenetic trees based on different genome regions (Bergthorsson et al, 2004), (Cusimano and Renner, 2019). We performed phylogenetic analysis of the individual mitochondrial genes and of the combined set and found that the topologies are identical.…”