Phytohormones in plant root-Piriformospora indica mutualism.
Piriformospora indica is a mutualistic root-colonising basidiomycete that tranfers various benefits to colonized host plants including growth promotion, yield increases as well as abiotic and biotic stress tolerance. The fungus is characterized by a broad host spectrum encompassing various monocots and dicots. Our recent microarray-based studies indicate a general plant defense suppression by P. indica and significant changes in the GA biosynthesis pathway. Furthermore, barley plants impaired in GA synthesis and perception showed a significant reduction in mutualistic colonization, which was associated with an elevated expression of defense-related genes. Here, we discuss the importance of plant hormones for compatibility in plant root-P. indica associations. Our data might provide a first explanation for the colonization success of the fungus in a wide range of higher plants.
Schäfer
Patrick
P
Research Centre for Biosystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany. Patrick.schaefer@agrar.uni-giessen.de
Pfiffi
Stefanie
S
Voll
Lars M
LM
Zajic
Doreen
D
Chandler
Peter M
PM
Waller
Frank
F
Scholz
Uwe
U
Pons-Kühnemann
Jörn
J
Sonnewald
Sophia
S
Sonnewald
Uwe
U
Kogel
Karl-Heinz
KH