Diversification of ergot alkaloids and heritable fungal symbionts in morning glories

Heritable microorganisms play critical roles in life cycles of many macro-organisms but their prevalence and functional roles are unknown for most plants. Bioactive ergot alkaloids produced by heritable Periglandula fungi occur in some morning glories (Convolvulaceae), similar to ergot alkaloids in grasses infected with related fungi. Ergot alkaloids have been of longstanding interest given their toxic effects, psychoactive properties, and medical applications. Here we show that ergot alkaloids are concentrated in four morning glory clades exhibiting differences in alkaloid profiles and are more prevalent in species with larger seeds than those with smaller seeds. Further, we found a phylogenetically-independent, positive correlation between seed mass and alkaloid concentrations in symbiotic species. Our findings suggest that heritable symbiosis has diversified among particular clades by vertical transmission through seeds combined with host speciation, and that ergot alkaloids are particularly beneficial to species with larger seeds. Our results are consistent with the defensive symbiosis hypothesis where bioactive ergot alkaloids from Periglandula symbionts protect seeds and seedlings from natural enemies, and provide a framework for exploring microbial chemistry in other plant-microbe interactions. Beaulieu et al. report on the distribution of bioactive ergot alkaloids produced by symbiotic fungi found primarily in four clades of morning glories. Their results identify the repeated evolution of this symbiosis in Convolvulaceae, and a correlation between ergot alkaloid presence and greater seed mass that is consistent with a defensive function.

Automated summary

Beaulieu et al. report on the distribution of bioactive ergot alkaloids produced by symbiotic fungi found primarily in four clades of morning glories. Their results identify the repeated evolution of this symbiosis in Convolvulaceae, and a correlation between ergot alkaloid presence and greater seed mass that is consistent with a defensive function.