Author
Joseph B. Morton
Other affiliations: Arizona State University
Bio: Joseph B. Morton is an academic researcher from West Virginia University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Glomus & Mycorrhiza. The author has an hindex of 25, co-authored 27 publications receiving 6666 citations. Previous affiliations of Joseph B. Morton include Arizona State University.
Topics: Glomus, Mycorrhiza, Acaulospora, Species richness, Spore
Papers
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Duke University1, Oregon State University2, Clark University3, Natural History Museum4, University of Minnesota5, Field Museum of Natural History6, Kaiserslautern University of Technology7, University of Arizona8, New York Botanical Garden9, University of Iowa10, Technische Universität Darmstadt11, University of Maine12, United States Department of Agriculture13, University of Georgia14, University of Alabama15, University of California, Berkeley16, University of Kansas17, Aberystwyth University18, West Virginia University19, Washington State University20, Harvard University21, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill22, Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures23, University of Tennessee24, Okayama University25, University of Kassel26, Brandon University27, Pennsylvania State University28, Leibniz Association29, University of Hamburg30, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh31
TL;DR: It is indicated that there may have been at least four independent losses of the flagellum in the kingdom Fungi, and the enigmatic microsporidia seem to be derived from an endoparasitic chytrid ancestor similar to Rozella allomycis, on the earliest diverging branch of the fungal phylogenetic tree.
Abstract: The ancestors of fungi are believed to be simple aquatic forms with flagellated spores, similar to members of the extant phylum Chytridiomycota (chytrids). Current classifications assume that chytrids form an early-diverging clade within the kingdom Fungi and imply a single loss of the spore flagellum, leading to the diversification of terrestrial fungi. Here we develop phylogenetic hypotheses for Fungi using data from six gene regions and nearly 200 species. Our results indicate that there may have been at least four independent losses of the flagellum in the kingdom Fungi. These losses of swimming spores coincided with the evolution of new mechanisms of spore dispersal, such as aerial dispersal in mycelial groups and polar tube eversion in the microsporidia (unicellular forms that lack mitochondria). The enigmatic microsporidia seem to be derived from an endoparasitic chytrid ancestor similar to Rozella allomycis, on the earliest diverging branch of the fungal phylogenetic tree.
1,682 citations
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643 citations
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TL;DR: Spore counts in field soil and estimates from sorghum trap cultures showed that the association of AM fungi with particular host plants in the field was positively correlated with the sporulation rates observed on those hosts in the microcosm experiments, suggesting host-dependent differences in fungal growth rates.
Abstract: 1 In laboratory microcosm experiments, co-occurring plant species were found to support very different rates of sporulation of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. These differences were not affected by the time of harvest, suggesting that they reflect host-dependent differences in fungal growth rates, rather than host-dependent timing of sporulation. 2 Spore counts in field soil and estimates from sorghum trap cultures showed that the association of AM fungi with particular host plants in the field was positively correlated with the sporulation rates observed on those hosts in the microcosm experiments. 3 The AM fungal species richness observed at the field site was high relative to estimates made in previous studies. 23 distinct species of AM fungi were found, seven of which have not been previously described. 4 The host-dependence of the relative growth rates of fungal populations may play an important role in the maintenance of fungal species diversity.
585 citations
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TL;DR: This study is the outcome, wherein the classification of Glomeromycota is revised by rejecting some new names on the grounds that they are founded in error and by synonymizing others that, while validly published, are not evidence-based.
Abstract: The publication of a large number of taxon names at all levels within the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Glomeromycota) has resulted in conflicting systematic schemes and generated considerable confusion among biologists working with these important plant symbionts. A group of biologists with more than a century of collective experience in the systematics of Glomeromycota examined all available molecular–phylogenetic evidence within the framework of phylogenetic hypotheses, incorporating morphological characters when they were congruent. This study is the outcome, wherein the classification of Glomeromycota is revised by rejecting some new names on the grounds that they are founded in error and by synonymizing others that, while validly published, are not evidence-based. The proposed “consensus” will provide a framework for additional original research aimed at clarifying the evolutionary history of this important group of symbiotic fungi.
508 citations
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TL;DR: Research on the ecology of interactions between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and the importance of AM fungi in the facilitation of plants' uptake of phosphorus is presented.
Abstract: Presents research on the ecology of interactions between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. Discovery that the underground world is diverse and dynamic; Process of discovery; Mechanisms that might maintain fungal diversity; Implications of this diversity for ecology as a whole; Importance of AM fungi in the facilitation of plants' uptake of phosphorus.
408 citations
Cited by
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Conrad L. Schoch1, Keith A. Seifert, Sabine M. Huhndorf2, Vincent Robert3 +157 more•Institutions (59)
TL;DR: Among the regions of the ribosomal cistron, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region has the highest probability of successful identification for the broadest range of fungi, with the most clearly defined barcode gap between inter- and intraspecific variation.
Abstract: Six DNA regions were evaluated as potential DNA barcodes for Fungi, the second largest kingdom of eukaryotic life, by a multinational, multilaboratory consortium. The region of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 used as the animal barcode was excluded as a potential marker, because it is difficult to amplify in fungi, often includes large introns, and can be insufficiently variable. Three subunits from the nuclear ribosomal RNA cistron were compared together with regions of three representative protein-coding genes (largest subunit of RNA polymerase II, second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II, and minichromosome maintenance protein). Although the protein-coding gene regions often had a higher percent of correct identification compared with ribosomal markers, low PCR amplification and sequencing success eliminated them as candidates for a universal fungal barcode. Among the regions of the ribosomal cistron, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region has the highest probability of successful identification for the broadest range of fungi, with the most clearly defined barcode gap between inter- and intraspecific variation. The nuclear ribosomal large subunit, a popular phylogenetic marker in certain groups, had superior species resolution in some taxonomic groups, such as the early diverging lineages and the ascomycete yeasts, but was otherwise slightly inferior to the ITS. The nuclear ribosomal small subunit has poor species-level resolution in fungi. ITS will be formally proposed for adoption as the primary fungal barcode marker to the Consortium for the Barcode of Life, with the possibility that supplementary barcodes may be developed for particular narrowly circumscribed taxonomic groups.
4,116 citations
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TL;DR: An enhanced understanding of the skin microbiome is necessary to gain insight into microbial involvement in human skin disorders and to enable novel promicrobial and antimicrobial therapeutic approaches for their treatment.
Abstract: The skin is the human body's largest organ, colonized by a diverse milieu of microorganisms, most of which are harmless or even beneficial to their host. Colonization is driven by the ecology of the skin surface, which is highly variable depending on topographical location, endogenous host factors and exogenous environmental factors. The cutaneous innate and adaptive immune responses can modulate the skin microbiota, but the microbiota also functions in educating the immune system. The development of molecular methods to identify microorganisms has led to an emerging view of the resident skin bacteria as highly diverse and variable. An enhanced understanding of the skin microbiome is necessary to gain insight into microbial involvement in human skin disorders and to enable novel promicrobial and antimicrobial therapeutic approaches for their treatment.
2,279 citations
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TL;DR: It is shown that NC-endophytes represent three distinct functional groups based on host colonization and transmission, in planta biodiversity and fitness benefits conferred to hosts, and key questions for future work in endophyte biology are highlighted.
Abstract: Summary 1 Summary All plants in natural ecosystems appear to be symbiotic with fungal endophytes. This highly diverse group of fungi can have profound impacts on plant communities through increasing fitness by conferring abiotic and biotic stress tolerance, increasing biomass and decreasing water consumption, or decreasing fitness by altering resource allocation. Despite more than 100 yr of research resulting in thousands of journal articles, the ecological significance of these fungi remains poorly characterized. Historically, two endophytic groups (clavicipitaceous (C) and nonclavicipitaceous (NC)) have been discriminated based on phylogeny and life history traits. Here, we show that NC-endophytes represent three distinct functional groups based on host colonization and transmission, in planta biodiversity and fitness benefits conferred to hosts. Using this framework, we contrast the life histories, interactions with hosts and potential roles in plant ecophysiology of C- and NC-endophytes, and highlight several key questions for future work in endophyte biology.
2,278 citations
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Clark University1, National Institutes of Health2, Louisiana State University3, CABI4, Umeå University5, Field Museum of Natural History6, Duke University7, University of Minnesota8, University of Alabama9, Oregon State University10, Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures11, United States Department of Agriculture12, University of Tübingen13, Max Planck Society14, University of Florida15, Pennsylvania State University16, Aberystwyth University17, Complutense University of Madrid18, University of Oslo19, University of Hong Kong20, University of Tartu21, University of Gothenburg22, University of Kansas23, University of Maine24, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign25, Royal Ontario Museum26, Georgia State University27, Estonian University of Life Sciences28, Washington State University29, Nova Southeastern University30, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich31, University of Western Ontario32, Uppsala University33, Brandon University34, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh35, State University of New York at Purchase36, Boise State University37, Cornell University38
TL;DR: A comprehensive phylogenetic classification of the kingdom Fungi is proposed, with reference to recent molecular phylogenetic analyses, and with input from diverse members of the fungal taxonomic community.
2,096 citations
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TL;DR: Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi can affect the water balance of both amply watered and droughted host plants and the influence of soil drying on the fungi is discussed.
Abstract: Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi can affect the water balance of both amply watered and droughted host plants. This review summarizes these effects and possible causal mechanisms. Also discussed are host drought resistance and the influence of soil drying on the fungi.
1,964 citations