Search

Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) represents a symbiotic mutualistic association between most land plants and Glomeromycota fungi. AM fungi develops specialized intraradical and highly branched structures, called arbuscules, where bidirectional exchange of nutrients between plant and fungi partners occurs, improving plant growth and fitness. Transcriptional reprogramming and hormonal regulation are necessary for the formation of the arbuscules. SlDLK2 , a member of the third clade from the DWARF14 family of α , β -hydrolases closely related to the strigolactone receptor D14, is a negative regulator of arbuscule branching in tomato, but the underlying mechanisms are unknown. We explored the possible role of SlDLK2 on the regulation of hormonal balance. RNA-seq analysis was performed on roots from composite tomato plants overexpressing SlDLK2 and in control plants transformed with the empty vector. Analysis of transcriptomic data predicted that significantly repressed genes were enriched for genes related to hormone biosynthesis pathways, with a special relevance of carotenoid/apocarotenoid biosynthesis genes. Stable transgenic SlDLK2 overexpressing (OE) tomato lines were obtained, and hormone contents were analyzed in their roots and leaves. Interesting significant hormonal changes were found in roots of SlDLK2 OE lines with respect to the control lines, with a strong decrease on jasmonic acid and ABA. In addition, SlDLK2 OE roots showed a slight reduction in auxin contents and in one of the major strigolactones in tomato, solanacol. Overall, our results suggest that the negative regulation of AM symbiosis by SlDLK2 is associated with the repression of genes involved in the biosynthesis of AM-promoting hormones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) is a mutualistic symbiotic interaction between plant roots and AM fungi (AMF). This interaction is highly beneficial for plant growth, development and fitness, which has made AM symbiosis the focus of basic and applied research aimed at increasing plant productivity through sustainable agricultural practices. The creation of AM requires host root cells to undergo significant structural and functional modifications. Numerous studies of mycorrhizal plants have shown that extensive transcriptional changes are induced in the host during all stages of colonization. Advances have recently been made in identifying several plant transcription factors (TFs) that play a pivotal role in the transcriptional regulation of AM development, particularly those belonging to the GRAS TF family. There is now sufficient experimental evidence to suggest that GRAS TFs are capable to establish intra and interspecific interactions, forming a transcriptional regulatory complex that controls essential processes in the AM symbiosis. In this minireview, we discuss the integrative role of GRAS TFs in the regulation of the complex genetic re-programming determining AM symbiotic interactions. Particularly, research being done shows the relevance of GRAS TFs in the morphological and developmental changes required for the formation and turnover of arbuscules, the fungal structures where the bidirectional nutrient translocation occurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formation of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis requires plant root host cells to undergo major structural and functional reprogramming to house the highly branched AM fungal structure for the reciprocal exchange of nutrients. These morphological modifications are associated with cytoskeleton remodelling. However, molecular bases and the role of microtubules (MTs) and actin filament dynamics during AM formation are largely unknown. In this study, the tomato tsb (tomato similar to SB401) gene, belonging to a Solanaceae group of genes encoding MT-associated proteins (MAPs) for pollen development, was found to be highly expressed in root cells containing arbuscules. At earlier stages of mycorrhizal development, tsb overexpression enhanced the formation of highly developed and transcriptionally active arbuscules, while tsb silencing hampers the formation of mature arbuscules and represses arbuscule functionality. However, at later stages of mycorrhizal colonization, tsb overexpressing (OE) roots accumulate fully developed transcriptionally inactive arbuscules, suggesting that the collapse and turnover of arbuscules might be impaired by TSB accumulation. Imaging analysis of the MT cytoskeleton in cortex root cells OE tsb revealed that TSB is involved in MT bundling. Taken together, our results provide unprecedented insights into the role of novel MAP in MT rearrangements throughout the different stages of the arbuscule life cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant hormones have become appropriate candidates for driving functional plant mycorrhization programs, including the processes that regulate the formation of arbuscules in arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis. Here, we examine the role played by ABA/GA interactions regulating the formation of AM in tomato. We report differences in ABA and GA metabolism between control and mycorrhizal roots. Active synthesis and catabolism of ABA occur in AM roots. GAs level increases as a consequence of a symbiosis-induced mechanism that requires functional arbuscules which in turn is dependent on a functional ABA pathway. A negative interaction in their metabolism has been demonstrated. ABA attenuates GA-biosynthetic and increases GA-catabolic gene expression leading to a reduction in bioactive GAs. Vice versa, GA activated ABA catabolism mainly in mycorrhizal roots. The negative impact of GA3 on arbuscule abundance in wild-type plants is partially offset by treatment with ABA and the application of a GA biosynthesis inhibitor rescued the arbuscule abundance in the ABA-deficient sitiens mutant. These findings, coupled with the evidence that ABA application leads to reduce bioactive GA1, support the hypothesis that ABA could act modifying bioactive GA level to regulate AM. Taken together, our results suggest that these hormones perform essential functions and antagonize each other by oppositely regulating AM formation in tomato roots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Solanum lycopersicum, an economically important crop grown worldwide, has been used as a model for the study of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis in non-legume plants for several years and several cDNA array hybridization studies have revealed specific transcriptomic profiles of mycorrhizal tomato roots. However, a method to easily screen candidate genes which could play an important role during tomato mycorrhization is required. Results: We have developed an optimized procedure for composite tomato plant obtaining achieved through Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation. This protocol involves the unusual in vitro culture of composite plants between two filter papers placed on the culture media. In addition, we show that DsRed is an appropriate molecular marker for the precise selection of cotransformed tomato hairy roots. S. lycopersicum composite plant hairy roots appear to be colonized by the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis in a manner similar to that of normal roots, and a modified construct useful for localizing the expression of promoters putatively associated with mycorrhization was developed and tested. Conclusions: In this study, we present an easy, fast and low-cost procedure to study AM symbiosis in tomato roots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) formation enhances plant growth and fitness through improved uptake of water and mineral nutrients in exchange for carbon compounds to the AM fungus. The fungal structure for the reciprocal exchange of nutrients in the symbiosis is the arbuscule, and defence genes expressed in cells containing arbuscules could play a role in the control of hyphal spread and arbuscule formation in the root. We characterized and analyzed the Ptc52 gene from tomato (SlPtc52), a member of the gene family of non-heme oxygenases, whose function has been related to the lethal leaf spot 1 (Lls1) lesion mimic phenotype in plants which is sometimes associated with enhanced disease resistance. Sequence analysis of the SlPTC52 protein revealed conserved typical motifs from non-heme oxygenases, including a Rieske [2Fe-2S] motif, a mononuclear non-heme iron-binding motif and a C-terminal CxxC motif. The level of transcript accumulation was low in stem, flower and green fruits, and high in leaves. Although SlPtc52 expression was perceptible at low levels in roots, its expression increased concomitantly with AM fungus root colonization. Tomato non-mycorrhizal hairy roots expressing the GUS protein under the control of promoter SlPtc52 exhibited GUS activity in the endodermis, the apical meristem of the root tip and in the lateral root primordium. AM fungal colonization also resulted in intensive GUS activity that clearly corresponds to cortical cells containing arbuscules. SlPtc52 gene silencing led to a delay in root colonization and a decrease in arbuscular abundance, suggesting that SlPTC52 plays a regulatory role during AM symbiosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]