Towards engineering ecto-mycorrhization into switchgrass bioenergy crops via a lectin receptor-like kinase

ABSTRACT: Soil-borne microbes can establish compatible relationships with host plants, providing a large variety of nutritive and protective compounds in exchange for photosynthesized sugars. However, the molecular signals mediating the establishment of these beneficial relationships remain unclear. Our previous genetic mapping and whole-genome resequencing studies identified a gene deletion event of a Populus trichocarpa lectin receptor-like kinase gene PtLecRLK1 in Populus deltoides that was associated with poor root colonization by the ectomycorrhizal fungus Laccaria bicolor. By introducing PtLecRLK1 into a perennial grass known to be a non-host of L. bicolor, switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), we found that the L. bicolor colonizes the ZmUbipro-PtLecRLK1 transgenic switchgrass roots which illustrates that introduction of PtLecRLK1 has the potential to convert a non-host to a host of L. bicolor. Further transcriptomic and proteomic analyses on inoculated transgenic switchgrass root samples revealed genes/proteins overrepresented in the compatible interaction and underrepresented in the pathogenic defense pathway, consistent with the view that pathogenic defense response is downregulated during compatible interaction. Metabolomic profiling revealed that root colonization in the transgenic switchgrass was associated with an increase in N-containing metabolites and a decrease in organic acids, sugars, and phenolics-like hydroxycinnamate conjugates, which are often seen in the early steps of establishing compatible interactions in compatible partners. This work illustrates that PtLecRLK1 is able to render a plant susceptible to colonization by the ectomycorrhizal fungus L. bicolor and sheds light on engineering mycorrhizal symbiosis into a non-host to enhance plant productivity and fitness in marginal lands.

INSTRUMENT(S): Q Exactive Plus

ORGANISM(S): Panicum Virgatum (ncbitaxon:38727)

SUBMITTER: Jin-Gui Chen  

PROVIDER: MSV000087067 | MassIVE | Thu Mar 18 08:04:00 GMT 2021

SECONDARY ACCESSION(S): PXD024841

REPOSITORIES: MassIVE