Can plant-fungi symbioses underpin the evolution of plant diversity ?

SemIDEEV
 13/02/2026
 12:00:00
 Vincent Savolainen, Imperial College à Londres, Royaume-Uni
 IDEEV - Salle Rosalind Franklin

Microbial symbionts may play a powerful yet overlooked role in speciation. Using the iconic Howea palms of Lord Howe Island, we explore whether coevolution with mycorrhizal fungi drove soil-based local adaptation, shifts in flowering time, and reproductive isolation. Combining metagenomics, RNA-seq, and long-term field experiments, this work reframes how plant–microbe interactions shape species divergence and broader ecological and agricultural diversity.