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Deciphering interfungal relationships in the 410-million-yr-old Rhynie chert: an intricate interaction between two mycelial fungi

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Abstract

The oldest fossil evidence of interfungal relationships comes from the Lower Devonian Rhynie chert. However, comprehensive specimens displaying consistent patterns of such associations are rare. In this paper we describe a new interfungal interaction from the Rhynie chert that occurs between two mycelial fungi within a degrading land plant axis. One of the partners (fungus 1, probably a glomeromycete) is represented by aseptate hyphae that extend through the space of what was the cortical intercellular system of the plant and produce thin-walled vesicles and/or spores. Intimately associated with fungus 1 is a second fungus (fungus 2, systematic affinities unknown) comprised of delicate, septate hyphae. Many vesicles/spores of fungus 1 are surrounded by a mantle-like hyphal investment formed by fungus 2. Because fungus 2 invades the vesicles/spores of fungus 1 and forms extensive hyphal wefts in the lumen, we interpret fungus 2 as a parasite, albeit not necessarily a pathogen, of fungus 1. This discovery contributes to our knowledge of the diversity of fungi and the intricate interfungal relationships that existed in early continental ecosystems.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by funds from the National Science Foundation (EAR-0949947), the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Ke 584/13-2), and the Alexander von Humboldt-Foundation (V-3.FLF-DEU/1064359). We thank U. Projahn, S. Sónyi, H. Martin, and N. Dotzler (all Munich) for technical assistance. The paper benefited from the constructive comments and suggestions of two anonymous referees.

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  1. Department für Geo- und Umweltwissenschaften, Paläontologie und Geobiologie, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Richard-Wagner-Straße 10, 80333, Munich, Germany

    Michael Krings

  2. Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie, Richard-Wagner-Straße 10, 80333, Munich, Germany

    Michael Krings

  3. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research Institute, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, 66045, USA

    Michael Krings & Thomas N. Taylor

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Correspondence to Michael Krings.

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Krings, M., Taylor, T.N. Deciphering interfungal relationships in the 410-million-yr-old Rhynie chert: an intricate interaction between two mycelial fungi. Symbiosis 64, 53–61 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13199-014-0302-2

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