Abstract
BACKGROUND: Some of the most difficult phylogenetic questions in evolutionary biology involve identification of the free-living relatives of parasitic organisms, particularly those of parasitic flowering plants. Consequently, the number of origins of parasitism and the phylogenetic distribution of the heterotrophic lifestyle among angiosperm lineages is unclear. RESULTS: Here we report the results of a phylogenetic analysis of 102 species of seed plants designed to infer the position of all haustorial parasitic angiosperm lineages using three mitochondrial genes: atp1, coxI, and matR. Overall, the mtDNA phylogeny agrees with independent studies in terms of non-parasitic plant relationships and reveals at least 11 independent origins of parasitism in angiosperms, eight of which consist entirely of holoparasitic species that lack photosynthetic ability. From these results, it can be inferred that modern-day parasites have disproportionately evolved in certain lineages and that the endoparasitic habit has arisen by convergence in four clades. In addition, reduced taxon, single gene analyses revealed multiple horizontal transfers of atp1 from host to parasite lineage, suggesting that parasites may be important vectors of horizontal gene transfer in angiosperms. Furthermore, in Pilostyles we show evidence for a recent host-to-parasite atp1 transfer based on a chimeric gene sequence that indicates multiple historical xenologous gene acquisitions have occurred in this endoparasite. Finally, the phylogenetic relationships inferred for parasites indicate that the origins of parasitism in angiosperms are strongly correlated with horizontal acquisitions of the invasive coxI group I intron. CONCLUSION: Collectively, these results indicate that the parasitic lifestyle has arisen repeatedly in angiosperm evolutionary history and results in increasing parasite genomic chimerism over time.
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Claims 9
Claim · model-written summary
The mitochondrial phylogeny agrees with independent studies of non-parasitic plant relationships.
- Taxon
- angiospermsMagnoliopsidat0
- Outcome
- mtDNA phylogeny agrees with independent studiese0
- Comparator
- independent studiese0
Verbatim
e0“the mtDNA phylogeny agrees with independent studies in terms of non-parasitic plant relationships”
t0“angiosperms”
Claim · model-written summary
Mitochondrial phylogeny indicates at least 11 independent origins of parasitism in angiosperms.
- Taxon
- angiospermsMagnoliopsidat0
- Outcome
- independent origins of parasitisme0
- Value
- at least 11e0
Verbatim
e0“reveals at least 11 independent origins of parasitism in angiosperms”
t0“angiosperms”
Claim · model-written summary
Eight of the origins comprise entirely holoparasitic species lacking photosynthesis.
- Taxon
- angiospermsMagnoliopsidat0
- Outcome
- holoparasitic species that lack photosynthetic abilitye0
- Value
- eighte0
Verbatim
e0“eight of which consist entirely of holoparasitic species that lack photosynthetic ability”
t0“angiosperms”
Claim · model-written summary
Modern parasites appear to have evolved disproportionately in certain lineages.
Verbatim
e0“modern-day parasites have disproportionately evolved in certain lineages”
t0“parasitic plants”
Claim · model-written summary
Endoparasitism arose convergently in four clades.
Verbatim
e0“the endoparasitic habit has arisen by convergence in four clades”
t0“parasitic plants”
Claim · model-written summary
Single-gene analyses reveal multiple horizontal transfers of atp1 from hosts to parasite lineages.
Verbatim
e0“reduced taxon, single gene analyses revealed multiple horizontal transfers of atp1 from host to parasite lineage”
t0“parasitic plants”
Claim · model-written summary
A chimeric atp1 sequence supports recent host-to-parasite transfer in Pilostyles and multiple historical xenolog acquisitions.
- Taxon
- Pilostyles
Pilostylese0 - Interactor
- hoste0host
- Gene
- atp1e0
- Outcome
- recent host-to-parasite atp1 transfere0
- Qualifier
- multiple historical xenologous gene acquisitionse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“in Pilostyles we show evidence for a recent host-to-parasite atp1 transfer based on a chimeric gene sequence that indicates multiple historical xenologous gene acquisitions have occurred in this endoparasite”
Claim · model-written summary
Origins of parasitism are strongly correlated with horizontal acquisitions of the invasive coxI group I intron.
- Taxon
- angiospermsMagnoliopsidat0
- Gene
- coxI group I introne0
- Outcome
- origins of parasitisme0
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
e0“the origins of parasitism in angiosperms are strongly correlated with horizontal acquisitions of the invasive coxI group I intron”
t0“angiosperms”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors infer that parasites may vector horizontal gene transfer in angiosperms.
- Taxon
- angiospermsMagnoliopsidat0
- Outcome
- horizontal gene transfere0
- Qualifier
- parasites may be important vectorse0
Verbatim
e0“suggesting that parasites may be important vectors of horizontal gene transfer in angiosperms”
t0“angiosperms”