title: Fungal endophyte infection of ryegrass reprograms host metabolism and alters development.
abstract: Beneficial associations between plants and microbes play an important role in both natural and agricultural ecosystems. For example, associations between fungi of the genus Epichloë, and cool-season grasses are known for their ability to increase resistance to insect pests, fungal pathogens and drought. However, little is known about the molecular changes induced by endophyte infection. To study the impact of endophyte infection, we compared the expression profiles, based on RNA sequencing, of perennial ryegrass infected with Epichloë festucae with noninfected plants. We show that infection causes dramatic changes in the expression of over one third of host genes. This is in stark contrast to mycorrhizal associations, where substantially fewer changes in host gene expression are observed, and is more similar to pathogenic interactions. We reveal that endophyte infection triggers reprogramming of host metabolism, favouring secondary metabolism at a cost to primary metabolism. Infection also induces changes in host development, particularly trichome formation and cell wall biogenesis. Importantly, this work sheds light on the mechanisms underlying enhanced resistance to drought and super-infection by fungal pathogens provided by fungal endophyte infection. Finally, our study reveals that not all beneficial plant-microbe associations behave the same in terms of their effects on the host.
authors: Institute of Fundamental Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand.|The Bio-Protection Research Centre, Massey University, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand.
authors: Pierre-Yves
authors: PY
authors: Dupont
authors: Institute of Fundamental Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand.|The Bio-Protection Research Centre, Massey University, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand.
authors: Carla J
authors: CJ
authors: Eaton
authors: Institute of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand.
authors: Jason J
authors: JJ
authors: Wargent
authors: Institute of Fundamental Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand.
authors: Susanne
authors: S
authors: Fechtner
authors: Research School of Biology, College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 0200, Australia.
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Solomon
authors: Institute of Fundamental Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand.
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Schmid
authors: School of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand.
authors: Robert C
authors: RC
authors: Day
authors: Institute of Fundamental Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand.|The Bio-Protection Research Centre, Massey University, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand.
authors: Barry
authors: B
authors: Scott
authors: Institute of Fundamental Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand.|The Bio-Protection Research Centre, Massey University, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand.
authors: Murray P
authors: MP
authors: Cox
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D001483:Base Sequence; D055864:Droughts; D060026:Endophytes / Q000254:growth & development*; D055329:Epichloe / Q000254:growth & development*; D015870:Gene Expression; D017343:Genes, Plant; D008129:Lolium / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D063245:Plant Development; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018749:RNA, Plant; D013559:Symbiosis
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins; D018749:RNA, Plant
keywords: RNAseq; endophyte; metabolism; mutualism; ryegrass; symbiosis