Robert E Jinkerson, Joseph A Russo, Casandra R Newkirk, Andrea L Kirk, Richard J Chi, Mark Q Martindale, Arthur R Grossman, Masayuki Hatta, Tingting Xiang
Photosynthesis shapes the symbiotic relationships between cnidarians and Symbiodiniaceae algae-with many cnidarian hosts requiring symbiont photosynthate for survival-but little is known about how photosynthesis impacts symbiosis establishment. Here, we show that during symbiosis establishment, infection, proliferation, and maintenance can proceed without photosynthesis, but the ability to do so is dependent on specific cnidarian-Symbiodiniaceae relationships. The evaluation of 31 pairs of symbiotic relationships (five species of Symbiodiniaceae in sea anemone, coral, and jellyfish hosts) revealed that infection can occur without photosynthesis...
June 6, 2022: Current Biology: CB