Global population structures and demographic history of <i>Suillus luteus</i> , a pine co-introduced ectomycorrhizal fungus associated with exotic forestry and invasion

Human colonization since the 19 <sup>th</sup> century has resulted in the global spread of pines across the Southern Hemisphere, well beyond their original northern boreal distribution. Such introductions moved not only the pines but also expanded the distribution of their symbiotic partners. Although the introduction of pines is documented through historical records, little is known about the introduction history of their ectomycorrhizal fungi, which are critical symbionts for the survival and invasion of pines. Using <i>Suillus luteus</i> as an example, population genomic analyses of 208 individuals across both native and introduced ranges showed that all introductions originated from Europe, likely mediated by human activities along with pine introductions. With the exception of North America, introduced populations were genetically differentiated from the Europe population, with varying magnitudes of population expansion in different introduced regions, often linked to forestry practices. Genetic variation within the native European population followed isolation by distance, but not in the introduced range, highlighting the disparity in the spatial genetic patterns of native versus exotic habitats. This study provides insight into the population genetics of a globally introduced ectomycorrhizal fungus whose introduction process is likely applicable to other pine-co-introduced ectomycorrhizal fungi.

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Publication Details

Journal
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
Published
2026-01-30
DOI
https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.01.27.699563
Primary Topic
Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Global population structures and demographic history of Suillus luteus , a pine co-introduced ectomycorrhizal fungus associated with exotic forestry and invasion

Yihong Ke, Kerrie Barry, Anna Bazzicalupo, Brian P. Looney et al.
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions
article

Global population structures and demographic history of Suillus luteus , a pine co-introduced ectomycorrhizal fungus associated with exotic forestry and invasion

Yihong Ke, Kerrie Barry, Anna Bazzicalupo, Brian P. Looney, Jason D. Hoeksema, Ursula Peintner, Dai Hirose, Ian C. Anderson, Peter G. Kennedy, Lotus Lofgren, Lipzen Anna, Alan Kuo, Hui-Ling Liao, Leho Tedersoo, Sara Branco, Igor Grigoriev, Nhu H. Nguyen, Jonathan M Plett, Rytas Vilgalys, Thomas D Bruns, J Alejandro Rojas
article en

Abstract

Human colonization since the 19 <sup>th</sup> century has resulted in the global spread of pines across the Southern Hemisphere, well beyond their original northern boreal distribution. Such introductions moved not only the pines but also expanded the distribution of their symbiotic partners. Although the introduction of pines is documented through historical records, little is known about the introduction history of their ectomycorrhizal fungi, which are critical symbionts for the survival and invasion of pines. Using <i>Suillus luteus</i> as an example, population genomic analyses of 208 individuals across both native and introduced ranges showed that all introductions originated from Europe, likely mediated by human activities along with pine introductions. With the exception of North America, introduced populations were genetically differentiated from the Europe population, with varying magnitudes of population expansion in different introduced regions, often linked to forestry practices. Genetic variation within the native European population followed isolation by distance, but not in the introduced range, highlighting the disparity in the spatial genetic patterns of native versus exotic habitats. This study provides insight into the population genetics of a globally introduced ectomycorrhizal fungus whose introduction process is likely applicable to other pine-co-introduced ectomycorrhizal fungi.

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
Nihon University (JP), University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (US), University of Minnesota (US), University of Denver (US), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (BE), Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (US), Duke University (US), Universität Innsbruck (AT), Joint Genome Institute (US), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (GB), University of Florida (US), University of Mississippi (US), University of Tartu (EE), Western Sydney University (AU), Michigan State University (US), University of Colorado Denver (US), University of California, Berkeley (US), Quincy University (US)
National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Energy, Johns Hopkins University, Joint Genome Institute, Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, Vlaamse regering, National Institutes of Health, Office of Science, Office of International Science and Engineering
Life in Land
Openalex Percentile: Top 72%
Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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