01/12/2024

MicroB 03
Mycology
Fungal Mating and
Genetics
Fungal Mating
Prince Nur-Hakeem N. Buisan, RMicro., MSc.

Reference:
Watkinson, S.C. et al. 2016. The Fungi, Third Edition. Elsevier
Chapter 4: Genetics: Variation on Sexuality and Evolution

Deacon, J.W. 2006. Fungal Biology, Fourth Edition. Blackwell

Publishing
Chapter 9: Fungal Genetics, Molecular Genetics, and
Genomics

Life Cycles and Sexual Processes in Fungi: A

Learning Objectives
Review
1. Identify and compare the major types of fungal life cycles. Key Sexual Processes in Fungi
2. Understand the role of genetic mechanisms in fungal behavior and • Plasmogamy – Fusion of the cellular contents of two haploid cells,
application. typically leading to a dikaryotic stage (cells containing two nuclei).
3. Differentiate between individual, population, and species concepts • Karyogamy – Fusion of the two nuclei to form a diploid nucleus,
in fungi. followed by meiosis, which restores the haploid state with new
4. Explain the processes of hyphal fusion and somatic incompatibility. genetic variation.
5. Analyze the purpose and mechanisms of fungal mating systems. • Meiosis – Produces four genetically distinct haploid cells, introducing
genetic diversity into the fungal population.
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Plasmogamy Mechanisms in Fungi Plasmogamy Mechanisms in Fungi

• Gametangial Copulation – Found in oomycetes, involves fusion of
differentiated male and female gametangia (antheridia and oogonia).
• Planogametic Copulation/Gamete Fusion – Fusion of motile gametes,
common in water molds and chytrids.
• Gametangial Contact - A type of sexual reproduction in fungi where two
gametangia (sex organs) of different mating types come into close contact.
• Somatogamy – Fusion of undifferentiated vegetative cells, typical in many
filamentous fungi.
• Spermatisation – In ascomycetes like Neurospora, a specialized tube
(trichogyne) transports male nuclei into female structures.

Defining Individuals, Populations, and Species Defining Individuals, Populations, and Species
Fungal Fusion: Advantages and Risks
Concept of an Individual in Fungi
Advantages:
• In multicellular fungi, defining an individual is complex due to their • Reconnection of hyphal streams
Defense Mechanism:
indeterminate growth patterns. • Resource pooling and cooperation Somatic Incompatibility
• For example, a single mycelium (fungal “body”) can fragment, and each part • Heterokaryon formation
can survive independently.
• Genet – A single genetic individual, originating from a zygote Disadvantages:
• Exposure to harmful genetic elements
• A single fungal spore that germinates and forms a mycelium. This original
mycelium is the genet. • Examples:
• Presence of a gene in Neurospora crassa that enables nuclei containing it to replace other nuclei
• Ramet – An individual shoot or clone produced asexually by a genet. • Some mitochondria in Neurospora and other fungi have genomes that render them defective in
• The individual mycelial strands that grow from the original mycelium are respiratory function but capable of normal replication
ramets. • Certain strains of Podospora anserina have a plasmid that causes senescence
• Viruses can affect growth and fruit body development
senescence - loss of cell's power of division and growth
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Defining Individuals, Populations, and Species

Somatic Incompatibility
• Fungi possess somatic incompatibility systems to avoid fusion with
non-self mycelia, protecting against harmful genetic elements such
as:
• Viruses that hinder fungal growth.
• Defective mitochondria that impair respiration.
• In basidiomycetes, recognition has a genetic basis and is regulated by
one to three or, possibly more genes with multiallelic loci (termed
vegetative compatibility (VC), vic or het loci)

Defining Individuals, Populations, and Species Defining Individuals, Populations, and Species
What is a Population? Species Concept in Fungi
• The species is the fundamental unit of biological classification
• A population comprises an assemblage of individuals of a species.
• Important characteristics of populations include 1. Morphological Species Concept: Based on physical traits, but variable
• their size and whether this is changing, morphologies in fungi due to environmental factors often complicate this
• their age structure, and classification.
• their genetic variation. 2. Biological Species Concept: Defines species based on reproductive
isolation. However, this requires extensive cross-fertilization studies,
which are labor-intensive and may not always provide clear results.
3. Phylogenetic Species Concept: Uses genetic analysis to define species
based on evolutionary lineage and is effective for fungi, especially for
asexual or morphologically similar species.
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Mating Systems
• Fungi have mating systems or
breeding systems that determine
whether or not individuals of the
same species can mate.
• Compatible matings are determined
by mating-type (MAT) factors.
• MAT (Mating Type) loci are genetic
regions that determine the mating
type of a fungus.
• These loci play a crucial role in sexual
reproduction by controlling compatibility
between individuals.

Mating Systems Breeding Systems

Function of the MAT Loci
• Genes in the MAT locus encode proteins
involved in pheromone production and
reception, allowing individuals to
recognize compatible mating partners.
• MAT locus genes regulate the
development of sexual structures, such
as fruiting bodies.
• Genes in the MAT locus control the
fusion of nuclei from different mating
types, leading to the formation of diploid
cells.
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Breeding Systems
Outcrossing vs. Non-Outcrossing Strategies
• Outcrossing Systems
• Encourage genetic diversity by promoting mating between genetically distinct strains.
• Dimixis (Two Mating Types): Involves two compa ble ma ng types (e.g., + and −). Ma ng occurs
only between different mating types, reducing self-fertilization.
• Bipolar Incompatibility (Unifactorial): Characteristic of some basidiomycetes, with multiple alleles
at a single mating locus, promoting high outcrossing potential.
• Tetrapolar Incompatibility (Bifactorial): Requires differences at two unlinked loci for successful
mating, resulting in a 25% inbreeding rate and higher outcrossing potential.
• Modified Tetrapolar Incompatibility: In some Basidiomycota there are many B factors but only two
A factors.
• Non-outcrossing Systems
• Favor self-fertilization, advantageous for isolated populations but reduce genetic
diversity.

Systems Restricting Outcrossing

Self-Fertility
• Some fungi are self-fertile, that is the sexual process can occur
between genetically identical cells.
• Termed as homothallism
• Primary homothallism if there is no evidence of a heterothallic ancestor
• Secondary homothallism if it is clear that an earlier heterothallism has been
avoided
• Mating type switching is a process in fungi where a cell can change
its mating type.
• This allows a single individual to mate with itself, promoting self-fertilization
and increasing reproductive success.
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Systems Restricting Outcrossing

Fertility Barriers
• Two main types:
• Genetic disharmony – through geographical separation, there is little gene
flow between two populations for a long time, genetic differences between
the populations may arise
• Heterogenic incompatibility – occurs when mating fails as a result of one or a
few genetic differences
Amixis
• All of the usual morphological features of the sexual process are
present, but nuclear fusion and meiosis do not occur

Parasexual Cycle Parasexual Cycle

• The parasexual cycle is a Key Steps:
unique genetic 1. Plasmogamy: Two genetically different hyphae fuse, bringing their nuclei into a
recombination process single cell. This creates a heterokaryon, a cell containing nuclei from different
found in certain fungi. parental strains.
• Offers an alternative to 2. Karyogamy: The nuclei within the heterokaryon fuse, forming a diploid nucleus.
traditional sexual This diploid nucleus contains genetic material from both parental strains.
reproduction, allowing for
genetic diversity and 3. Mitotic Recombination: The diploid nucleus undergoes mitotic divisions, during
adaptation without the need which crossing-over can occur. This allows for the exchange of genetic material
for meiosis or the formation between homologous chromosomes, generating new genetic combinations.
of specialized sexual 4. Haploidization: The diploid nucleus undergoes a process of chromosome loss or
structures. nondisjunction, resulting in the formation of haploid nuclei. These haploid nuclei
may carry recombinant genetic material.
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