Cell- and Tissue-Specific Transcriptome Analyses of Medicago truncatula Root Nodules

ABSTRACTMost legumes can establish a symbiotic association with soil rhizobia that triggers the development of root nodules. These nodules host the rhizobia and allow them to fix nitrogen efficiently. The perception of bacterial lipo-chitooligosaccharide (LCO) signal in the epidermis initiates a signaling cascade that allows rhizobial intracellular infection in the root and de-differentiation and activation of cell division that gives rise to the nodule. Nodule organogenesis and rhizobial infection need to be coupled in space and time for successful nodulation. The plant hormone cytokinin (CK) acts as an essential positive regulator of nodule organogenesis, and specific CK receptors are required for nodule formation. Temporal regulation of tissue-specific CK signaling and biosynthesis in response to LCOs or Sinorhizobium meliloti inoculation in Medicago truncatula remains poorly understood. In the present study, using a fluorescence-based CK sensor (TCSn::nls:tGFP), we performed a high-resolution tissue-specific temporal characterization of the CK response’s sequential activation during root infection and nodule development in M. truncatula after inoculation with S. meliloti. Loss-of-function mutants of the CK-biosynthetic gene ISOPENTENYL TRANSFERASE 3 (IPT3) showed impairment of nodulation, suggesting that IPT3 is required for nodule development in M. truncatula. Simultaneous live imaging of pIPT3::tdTOMATO and the CK sensor showed that IPT3 induction in the root stele at the base of nodule primordium contributes to CK biosynthesis, which in turn promotes expression of positive regulators of nodule organogenesis in M. truncatula.One-sentence summaryHigh-resolution spatiotemporal imaging of cytokinin signaling reveals IPT3 function during indeterminate nodule development in Medicago truncatula

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Faculty Opinions recommendation of Expression of the plastid-located glutamine synthetase of Medicago truncatula. Accumulation of the precursor in root nodules reveals an in vivo control at the level of protein import into plastids.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.1004836.191329 ◽

2003 ◽

Author(s):

Jurgen Soll

Keyword(s):

Glutamine Synthetase ◽

Medicago Truncatula ◽

Protein Import ◽

Root Nodules

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Temporal and tissue-specific transcriptome analyses reveal mechanistic insights into the Solidago canadensis response to cadmium contamination

Chemosphere ◽

10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.133501 ◽

2022 ◽

pp. 133501

Author(s):

Chanchan Xu ◽

Zeyu Li ◽

Jianbo Wang

Keyword(s):

Solidago Canadensis ◽

Cadmium Contamination ◽

Tissue Specific ◽

Transcriptome Analyses

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Comparison of nodule endophyte composition, diversity, and gene content between Medicago truncatula genotypes

Phytobiomes Journal ◽

10.1094/pbiomes-10-20-0077-r ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Mannix Burns ◽

Brendan Epstein ◽

Liana Burghardt

Keyword(s):

Functional Groups ◽

Medicago Truncatula ◽

Root Nodules ◽

Bacterial Endophytes ◽

Host Genotype ◽

Model Legume ◽

Symbiotic Relationships ◽

Functional Assays ◽

Altered Gene ◽

Significant Direct Effect

Leguminous plants form symbiotic relationships with rhizobia. These nitrogen-fixing bacteria live in specialized root organs called nodules. While rhizobia form the most notable host relationship within root nodules, other bacterial endophytes also inhabit these root nodules and can influence host-rhizobia interactions as well as exert effects of their own, whether beneficial or detrimental. In this study, we investigate differences in nodule communities between genotypes (A17 and R108) of a single plant species, the model legume Medicago truncatula. While diversity of endophytes in nodules was similar across hosts, both nodule endophyte composition and gene functional groups differed. In contrast to the significant direct effect of host genotype, neither the presence nor identity of a host in the previous generation (either A17 or R108) had a significant effect on the nodule endophyte diversity or composition. However, whether or not a host was present altered gene functional groups. We conclude that genetic variation within a legume host species can play an important role in the establishment of nodule microbiomes. Further studies, including GWAS and functional assays, can open the door for engineering and optimizing nodule endophyte communities that promote growth or have other beneficial qualities.

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Phoma medicaginis colonizes Medicago truncatula root nodules and affects nitrogen fixation capacity

European Journal of Plant Pathology ◽

10.1007/s10658-014-0549-8 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 141 (2) ◽

pp. 375-383 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Saif-Allah Chihaoui ◽

Naceur Djébali ◽

Moncef Mrabet ◽

Fathi Barhoumi ◽

Ridha Mhamdi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nitrogen Fixation ◽

Medicago Truncatula ◽

Root Nodules ◽

Phoma Medicaginis ◽

Fixation Capacity

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Heterologous Expression of Rhizobial CelC2 Cellulase Impairs Symbiotic Signaling and Nodulation in Medicago truncatula

Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions ◽

10.1094/mpmi-11-17-0265-r ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 31 (5) ◽

pp. 568-575 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Marta Robledo ◽

Esther Menéndez ◽

Jose Ignacio Jiménez-Zurdo ◽

Raúl Rivas ◽

Encarna Velázquez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Medicago Truncatula ◽

Cell Walls ◽

Rhizobium Leguminosarum ◽

Root Nodules ◽

Root Hairs ◽

Nod Factors ◽

Model Legume ◽

Ensifer Meliloti ◽

Early Nodulin ◽

The Impact

The infection of legume plants by rhizobia is tightly regulated to ensure accurate bacterial penetration, infection, and development of functionally efficient nitrogen-fixing root nodules. Rhizobial Nod factors (NF) have key roles in the elicitation of nodulation signaling. Infection of white clover roots also involves the tightly regulated specific breakdown of the noncrystalline apex of cell walls in growing root hairs, which is mediated by Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii cellulase CelC2. Here, we have analyzed the impact of this endoglucanase on symbiotic signaling in the model legume Medicago truncatula. Ensifer meliloti constitutively expressing celC gene exhibited delayed nodulation and elicited aberrant ineffective nodules, hampering plant growth in the absence of nitrogen. Cotreatment of roots with NF and CelC2 altered Ca2+ spiking in root hairs and induction of the early nodulin gene ENOD11. Our data suggest that CelC2 alters early signaling between partners in the rhizobia-legume interaction.

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