Martin Nebel, Ingrid Kottke, Markus Preußing and Elke Barth

Fungal Symbiosis in Liverworts

Steep slope at the footpath in Bombuscaro

young sporophytes

young spore

Symphyogyna brongniartii

vesicle

unseptate hyphae

lipid droplets

Jensenia erythropus

creeping axis

young shoot

old shoot

dichotomous branching

creeping axis

rhizoids

erect shoots

Jensenia erythropus

appressorium

external hypha

rhizoid

internal hypha

vesicle

fungal hyphae

starch grains

hypha

arbuscles

cell wall penetration

arbuscles

fossil Aglaophyton (from www.uni-muenster.de/GeoPalaeontologie)

Jensenia erythropus

Aneura pinguis

hyphal coils

male branches

upper epidermis

lower epidermis

parenchyma

cross-section

doliporus in Tulasnellafrom KOTTKE et al. 2003

imperforateparenthesome

septum

Tulasnella calospora (Basidiomycetes)from WARCUP & TALBOT 1967

Gongylanthus granatensis

capsule

opposite leafs Distinct leavy liverwort withSebacina as symbionts

doliporus in Sebacinafrom KOTTKE et al. 2003)

Sebacina vermiferafrom WARCUP & TALBOT 1967

imperforateparenthesome

septum

from Kottke et al. 2003

phylogenetic position of symbiotic fungi of liverworts

Jung

erm

ann

iops

ida

Ma

rcha

ntio

psid

a

Mar

chan

tiop

hyt

a

Sub

clas

s

Cla

ss

Ph

ylu

m

Sphaerocarpidae

Marchantiidae

Monocleales

Sphaerocarpales

Marchantiales

Ricciales

Haplomitriales

Blasiales

Treubiales

Lepicoleales

Jungermanniales

Porellales

Radulales

PleurozialesC

lass

ifica

tion

of M

arch

antio

phy

ta

Haplomitri-opsida

Blasiopsida

Treubiopsida

Ord

er

Fossombroniales

Metzgeriales

Fos

som

bron

i-o

psid

a

„Pallaviciniales“

GG

GG

GG

BB

B

from KENRICK & CRANE 1997

Conclusions

Symbiotic fungi in liverwortshave a key function for the

evolution of terrestrialecosystems

Thanks to the DFG (DFG project FOR 402) for the

generous financial support, and the NCI for research

facilities.

Publications:

Nebel, M., H.-P. Kreier, M. Preussing, M. Weiss et I. Kottke (2004): Symbiotic fungal associations

of liverworts are the possible ancestors of mycorrhizae. – in: R. Agerer, M. Piepenbring et P. Blanz

(eds.): Frontiers in Basidiomycote Mycology: 339-360. IHW-Verlag. Eching.

Kottke, I. et M. Nebel (submitted): Jensenia erythropus – a model of an ancestral landplant. - Can.

J. Bot.