Generalist endophyte Phomopsis liquidambaris colonization of Oryza sativa L. promotes plant growth under nitrogen starvation

TY - JOUR

T1 - Generalist endophyte Phomopsis liquidambaris colonization of Oryza sativa L. promotes plant growth under nitrogen starvation

AU - Zhou, Jun

AU - Huang, Peng Wei

AU - Li, Xin

AU - Vaistij, Fabián E.

AU - Dai, Chuan Chao

N1 - Funding Information: This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC 32071638); Program for Jiangsu Excellent Scientific and Technological Innovation Team (17CXTD00014); and a project funded by the Priority Academic Program Development (PAPD) of the Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions of China. Publisher Copyright: © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.

PY - 2022/5/6

Y1 - 2022/5/6

N2 - Fungal endophytes establish symbiotic relationships with host plants, which results in a mutual growth benefit. However, little is known about the plant genetic response underpinning endophyte colonization. Phomopsis liquidambaris usually lives as an endophyte in a wide range of asymptomatic hosts and promotes biotic and abiotic stress resistance. In this study, we show that under low nitrogen conditions P. liquidambaris promotes rice growth in a hydroponic system, which is free of other microorganisms. In order to gain insights into the mechanisms of plant colonization by P. liquidambaris under low nitrogen conditions, we compared root and shoot transcriptome profiles of root-inoculated rice at different colonization stages. We determined that genes related to plant growth promotion, such as gibberellin and auxin related genes, were up-regulated at all developmental stages both locally and systemically. The largest group of up-regulated genes (in both roots and shoots) were related to flavonoid biosynthesis, which is involved in plant growth as well as antimicrobial compounds. Furthermore, genes encoding plant defense-related endopeptidase inhibitors were strongly up-regulated at the early stage of colonization. Together, these results provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms of plant-microbe mutualism and the promotion of plant growth by a fungal endophyte under nitrogen-deficient conditions.

AB - Fungal endophytes establish symbiotic relationships with host plants, which results in a mutual growth benefit. However, little is known about the plant genetic response underpinning endophyte colonization. Phomopsis liquidambaris usually lives as an endophyte in a wide range of asymptomatic hosts and promotes biotic and abiotic stress resistance. In this study, we show that under low nitrogen conditions P. liquidambaris promotes rice growth in a hydroponic system, which is free of other microorganisms. In order to gain insights into the mechanisms of plant colonization by P. liquidambaris under low nitrogen conditions, we compared root and shoot transcriptome profiles of root-inoculated rice at different colonization stages. We determined that genes related to plant growth promotion, such as gibberellin and auxin related genes, were up-regulated at all developmental stages both locally and systemically. The largest group of up-regulated genes (in both roots and shoots) were related to flavonoid biosynthesis, which is involved in plant growth as well as antimicrobial compounds. Furthermore, genes encoding plant defense-related endopeptidase inhibitors were strongly up-regulated at the early stage of colonization. Together, these results provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms of plant-microbe mutualism and the promotion of plant growth by a fungal endophyte under nitrogen-deficient conditions.

KW - Endophyte

KW - Nitrogen starvation

KW - Phomopsis liquidambaris

KW - Plant growth promotion

KW - Rice

KW - RNA-seq

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85129512006&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1007/s11103-022-01268-7

DO - 10.1007/s11103-022-01268-7

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85129512006

SN - 0167-4412

JO - Plant Molecular Biology

JF - Plant Molecular Biology

ER -