Host and Non-Host Impact on the Physiology of the AM Symbiosis

Author(s):  
Horst Vierheilig ◽  
Bert Bago
Keyword(s):  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Manoj-Kumar Arthikala ◽  
Kalpana Nanjareddy ◽  
Lourdes Blanco ◽  
Xóchitl Alvarado-Affantranger ◽  
Miguel Lara

AbstractTarget of rapamycin (TOR) is a conserved central growth regulator in eukaryotes that has a key role in maintaining cellular nutrient and energy status. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are mutualistic symbionts that assist the plant in increasing nutrient absorption from the rhizosphere. However, the role of legume TOR in AM fungal symbiosis development has not been investigated. In this study, we examined the function of legume TOR in the development and formation of AM fungal symbiosis. RNA-interference-mediated knockdown of TOR transcripts in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) hairy roots notably suppressed AM fungus-induced lateral root formation by altering the expression of root meristem regulatory genes, i.e., UPB1, RGFs, and sulfur assimilation and S-phase genes. Mycorrhized PvTOR-knockdown roots had significantly more extraradical hyphae and hyphopodia than the control (empty vector) roots. Strong promoter activity of PvTOR was observed at the site of hyphal penetration and colonization. Colonization along the root length was affected in mycorrhized PvTOR-knockdown roots and the arbuscules were stunted. Furthermore, the expression of genes induced by AM symbiosis such as SWEET1, VPY, VAMP713, and STR was repressed under mycorrhized conditions in PvTOR-knockdown roots. Based on these observations, we conclude that PvTOR is a key player in regulating arbuscule development during AM symbiosis in P. vulgaris. These results provide insight into legume TOR as a potential regulatory factor influencing the symbiotic associations of P. vulgaris and other legumes.


Botany ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 92 (4) ◽  
pp. 241-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ylva Lekberg ◽  
Roger T. Koide

Our knowledge of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) function is largely based on results from short-term studies in controlled environments. While these have provided many important insights into the potential effects of the symbiosis on the two symbionts and their communities, they may have also inadvertently led to faulty assumptions about the function of the symbiosis in natural settings. Here we highlight the consequences of failing to consider the AM symbiosis from the perspectives of community ecology and evolutionary biology. Also, we argue that by distinguishing between physiological and evolutionary viewpoints, we may be able to resolve controversies regarding the mutualistic vs. parasitic nature of the symbiosis. Further, while most AM research has emphasized resource transfers, primarily phosphate and carbohydrate, our perceptions of parasitism, cheating, bet-hedging, and partner choice would most likely change if we considered other services. Finally, to gain a fuller understanding of the role of the AM symbiosis in nature, we need to better integrate physiological processes of plants and their AM fungi with their naturally occurring temporal and spatial patterns. It is our hope that this article will generate some fruitful discussions and make a contribution toward this end.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. 671
Author(s):  
Xiao Lou ◽  
Xiangyu Zhang ◽  
Yu Zhang ◽  
Ming Tang

The simultaneous effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and abscisic acid (ABA) on the tolerance of plants to heavy metal (HM) remain unclear. A pot experiment was carried out to clarify the effects of simultaneous applications of AM fungi and ABA on plant growth, Zn accumulation, endogenous ABA contents, proline metabolism, and the oxidative injury of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) exposed to excess Zn stress. The results suggested that exogenously applied ABA positively enhanced AM colonization, and that the growth of plants only with AM fungi was improved by ABA application. Under Zn stress, AM inoculation and ABA application increased the ABA content in the root/leaf (increased by 48–172% and 92%, respectively) and Zn content in the root/shoot (increased by 63–152% and 61%, respectively) in AM plants, but no similar trends were observed in NM plants. Additionally, exogenous ABA addition increased the proline contents of NM roots concomitantly with the activities of the related synthases, whereas it reduced the proline contents and the activity of Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase in AM roots. Under Zn stress, AM inoculation and ABA application decreased H2O2 contents and the production rate of O2, to varying degrees. Furthermore, in the roots exposed to Zn stress, AM inoculation augmented the activities of SOD, CAT, POD and APX, and exogenously applied ABA increased the activities of SOD and POD. Overall, AM inoculation combined with ABA application might be beneficial to the survival of black locust under Zn stress by improving AM symbiosis, inhibiting the transport of Zn from the roots to the shoots, increasing the distribution of ABA in roots, and stimulating antioxidant defense systems.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Cui ◽  
Feng Guo ◽  
Jialei Zhang ◽  
Sha Yang ◽  
JingJing Meng ◽  
...  

Abstract Peanut yield is severely affected by exchangeable calcium ion (Ca2+) deficiency in the soil. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis increases the absorption of Ca2+ for host plants. Here, we analyzed the physiological and transcriptional changes in the roots of Arachis hypogaea L. colonized by Funneliformismosseae under Ca2+-deficient and -sufficient conditions. The results showed that exogenous Ca2+ application increased arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonization, plant dry weight, and Ca content of AM plants. Simultaneously, transcriptome analysis showed that Ca2+ application further induced 74.5% of differentially expressed gene transcripts in roots of AM peanut seedlings. These genes are involved in AM symbiosis development, hormone biosynthesis and signal transduction, and carotenoid and flavonoid biosynthesis. The transcripts of AM-specific marker genes in AM plants with Ca2+ deprivation were further up-regulated by Ca2+ application. Gibberellic acid (GA3) and flavonoid contents were higher in roots of AM- and Ca2+-treated plants, but salicylic acid (SA) and carotenoid contents specifically increased in roots of the AM plants. Thus, these results suggest that the synergy of AM symbiosis and Ca2+ improves plant growth due to the shared GA- and flavonoid-mediated pathway, whereas SA and carotenoid biosynthesis in peanut roots are specific to AM symbiosis.


2011 ◽  
Vol 57 (No. 12) ◽  
pp. 541-546 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Qiao ◽  
X.P. Wen ◽  
L.F. Yu ◽  
X.B. Ji

  Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) has been rapidly grown in the drought-striken Karst regions of southwest China. Present research aimed to investigate the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) on the drought tolerance of pigeon pea, as well as to elucidate the physiological responses of AM-colonized seedlings to the water deficit. As subjected to drought stress, AM symbiosis (AMD) highly led to the positive effects on root system, plant height and stem diameter. AMD demonstrated a remarkably higher chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance. The soluble sugar in AMD was significantly higher than that of the non-AM seedlings (NAMD), indicating the enhanced tolerance at least partially correlated with osmotic solute. Conversely, the proline (Pro) of AMD was lower, revealing the excessive Pro was not imperative for drought tolerance. After 30 days drought stress, AMD gave around a third less lipid peroxides than that of NAMD. Rather, the root activities of AMD were significantly higher than that of the latter after 10 days drought stress. Thereby, AM fungi might substantially elevate the tolerance to drought of pigeon pea, and the cumulative effects contributed to the enhanced tolerance. To date, this has been the first report concerning the enhancement of drought tolerance via AM colonization in this legume species.  


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 1748
Author(s):  
Gabriela Quiroga ◽  
Gorka Erice ◽  
Ricardo Aroca ◽  
Juan Manuel Ruiz-Lozano

Boron (B) is an essential micronutrient for higher plants, having structural roles in primary cell walls, but also other functions in cell division, membrane integrity, pollen germination or metabolism. Both high and low B levels negatively impact crop performance. Thus, plants need to maintain B concentration in their tissues within a narrow range by regulating transport processes. Both active transport and protein-facilitated diffusion through aquaporins have been demonstrated. This study aimed at elucidating the possible involvement of some plant aquaporins, which can potentially transport B and are regulated by the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis in the plant B homeostasis. Thus, AM and non-AM plants were cultivated under 0, 25 or 100 μM B in the growing medium and subjected or not subjected to drought stress. The accumulation of B in plant tissues and the regulation of plant aquaporins and other B transporters were analyzed. The benefits of AM inoculation on plant growth (especially under drought stress) were similar under the three B concentrations assayed. The tissue B accumulation increased with B availability in the growing medium, especially under drought stress conditions. Several maize aquaporins were regulated under low or high B concentrations, mainly in non-AM plants. However, the general down-regulation of aquaporins and B transporters in AM plants suggests that, when the mycorrhizal fungus is present, other mechanisms contribute to B homeostasis, probably related to the enhancement of water transport, which would concomitantly increase the passive transport of this micronutrient.


Cells ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 490 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Zhang ◽  
Lizong Hu ◽  
Deshui Yu ◽  
Kedong Xu ◽  
Ju Zhang ◽  
...  

Phosphorus (P) deficiency is one of the main growth-limiting factors for plants. However, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis can significantly promote P uptake. Generally, PHT1 transporters play key roles in plants’ P uptake, and thus, PHT1 genes have been investigated in some plants, but the regulation and functions of these genes in wheat (TaPHT1) during AM symbiosis have not been studied in depth. Therefore, a comprehensive analysis of TaPHT1 genes was performed, including sequence, phylogeny, cis-elements, expression, subcellular localization and functions, to elucidate their roles in AM-associated phosphate transport and immunity. In total, 35 TaPHT1s were identified in the latest high-quality bread wheat genome, 34 of which were unevenly distributed on 13 chromosomes, and divided into five groups. Sequence analysis indicated that there are 11 types of motif architectures and five types of exon-intron structures in the TaPHT1 family. Duplication mode analysis indicated that the TaPHT1 family has expanded mainly through segmental and tandem duplication events, and that all duplicated gene pairs have been under purifying selection. Transcription analysis of the 35 TaPHT1s revealed that not only known the mycorrhizal-specific genes TaPht-myc, TaPT15-4B (TaPT11) and TaPT19-4D (TaPT10), but also four novel mycorrhizal-specific/inducible genes (TaPT3-2D, TaPT11-4A, TaPT29-6A, and TaPT31-7A) are highly up-regulated in AM wheat roots. Furthermore, the mycorrhizal-specific/inducible genes are significantly induced in wheat roots at different stages of infection by colonizing fungi. Transient Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation expression in onion epidermal cells showed that TaPT29-6A is a membrane-localized protein. In contrast to other AM-specific/inducible PHT1 genes, TaPT29-6A is apparently required for the symbiotic and direct Pi pathway. TaPT29-6A-silenced lines exhibited reduced levels of AM fungal colonization and arbuscules, but increased susceptibility to biotrophic, hemi-biotrophic and necrotrophic pathogens. In conclusion, TaPT29-6A was not only essential for the AM symbiosis, but also played vital roles in immunity.


2005 ◽  
Vol 275 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 181-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. R. Asghari ◽  
D. J. Chittleborough ◽  
F. A. Smith ◽  
S. E. Smith

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 170-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Lelandais-Brière ◽  
Jérémy Moreau ◽  
Caroline Hartmann ◽  
Martin Crespi

Endosymbiosis interactions allow plants to grow in nutrient-deficient soil environments. The arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is an ancestral interaction between land plants and fungi, whereas nitrogen-fixing symbioses are highly specific for certain plants, notably major crop legumes. The signaling pathways triggered by specific lipochitooligosaccharide molecules involved in these interactions have common components that also overlap with plant root development. These pathways include receptor-like kinases, transcription factors (TFs), and various intermediate signaling effectors, including noncoding (nc)RNAs. These latter molecules have emerged as major regulators of gene expression and small ncRNAs, composed of micro (mi)RNAs and small interfering (si)RNAs, are known to control gene expression at transcriptional (chromatin) or posttranscriptional levels. In this review, we describe exciting recent data connecting variants of conserved si/miRNAs with the regulation of TFs, such as NSP2, NFY-A1, auxin-response factors, and AP2-like proteins, known to be involved in symbiosis. The link between hormonal regulations and these si- and miRNA-TF nodes is proposed in a model in which different feedback loops or regulations controlling endosymbiosis signaling are integrated. The diversity and emerging regulatory networks of young legume miRNAs are also highlighted.


2011 ◽  
Vol 24 (8) ◽  
pp. 867-878 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clare Gough ◽  
Julie Cullimore

The arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and the rhizobia-legume (RL) root endosymbioses are established as a result of signal exchange in which there is mutual recognition of diffusible signals produced by plant and microbial partners. It was discovered 20 years ago that the key symbiotic signals produced by rhizobial bacteria are lipo-chitooligosaccharides (LCO), called Nod factors. These LCO are perceived via lysin-motif (LysM) receptors and activate a signaling pathway called the common symbiotic pathway (CSP), which controls both the RL and the AM symbioses. Recent work has established that an AM fungus, Glomus intraradices, also produces LCO that activate the CSP, leading to induction of gene expression and root branching in Medicago truncatula. These Myc-LCO also stimulate mycorrhization in diverse plants. In addition, work on the nonlegume Parasponia andersonii has shown that a LysM receptor is required for both successful mycorrhization and nodulation. Together these studies show that structurally related signals and the LysM receptor family are key components of both nodulation and mycorrhization. LysM receptors are also involved in the perception of chitooligosaccharides (CO), which are derived from fungal cell walls and elicit defense responses and resistance to pathogens in diverse plants. The discovery of Myc-LCO and a LysM receptor required for the AM symbiosis, therefore, not only raises questions of how legume plants discriminate fungal and bacterial endosymbionts but also, more generally, of how plants discriminate endosymbionts from pathogenic microorganisms using structurally related LCO and CO signals and of how these perception mechanisms have evolved.


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