The First Evidence of a Host-to-Parasite Mitochondrial Gene Transfer in Orobanchaceae

Abstract

AbstractSeveral parasitic plants are known to have acquired mitochondrial genes via a horizontal transfer from their hosts. However, mitochondrial gene transfer in this direction has not yet been found in the parasite-rich family Orobanchaceae. Based on a phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrialatp6gene in selected species ofOrobanches.l., we provide evidence of a host-to-parasite transfer of this gene inO. coerulescens, which is a Eurasiatic species that parasitisesArtemisia(Asteraceae). We did not find the originalOrobanche atp6gene in this species, which suggests that it has been replaced by a gene that was acquired from Asteraceae. In addition, our data suggest the occurrence of a second HGT event in theatp6sequence – from Asteraceae toPhelipanche. Our results support the view that the transfer of genetic material from hosts to parasites influences the mitochondrial genome evolution in the latter.