title: Arabidopsis thaliana root colonization by the nematophagous fungus Pochonia chlamydosporia is modulated by jasmonate signaling and leads to accelerated flowering and improved yield.
abstract: Pochonia chlamydosporia has been intensively studied in nematode control of different crops. We have investigated the interaction between P. chlamydosporia and the model system Arabidopsis thaliana under laboratory conditions in the absence of nematodes. This study demonstrates that P. chlamydosporia colonizes A. thaliana. Root colonization monitored with green fluorescent protein-tagged P. chlamydosporia and quantitative PCR (qPCR) quantitation methods revealed root cell invasion. Fungal inoculation reduced flowering time and stimulated plant growth, as determined by total FW increase, faster development of inflorescences and siliques, and a higher yield in terms of seed production per plant. Precocious flowering was associated with significant expression changes in key flowering-time genes. In addition, we also provided molecular and genetic evidence that point towards jasmonate signaling as an important factor to modulate progression of plant colonization by the fungus. Our results indicate that P. chlamydosporia provides benefits to the plant in addition to its nematophagous activity. This report highlights the potential of P. chlamydosporia to improve yield in economically important crops.
authors.affiliation: Multidisciplinary Institute for Environmental Studies (MIES) 'Ramon Margalef', Department of Marine Sciences and Applied Biology, University of Alicante, Aptdo. 99, Alicante, 03080, Spain.|Food Research and Development Unit (UNIDA), Laboratory of Genetics, Technological Institute of Veracruz, Veracruz, 91897, México.
authors.forename: Ernesto A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Zavala-Gonzalez
authors.affiliation: Area de Genética, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Campus de Sant Joan, Alicante, 03550, Spain.
authors.forename: Encarnación
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Cazorla
authors.affiliation: Multidisciplinary Institute for Environmental Studies (MIES) 'Ramon Margalef', Department of Marine Sciences and Applied Biology, University of Alicante, Aptdo. 99, Alicante, 03080, Spain.
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Escudero
authors.affiliation: Multidisciplinary Institute for Environmental Studies (MIES) 'Ramon Margalef', Department of Marine Sciences and Applied Biology, University of Alicante, Aptdo. 99, Alicante, 03080, Spain.
authors.forename: Almudena
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aranda-Martinez
authors.affiliation: Area de Genética, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Campus de Sant Joan, Alicante, 03550, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martínez-Laborda
authors.affiliation: Food Research and Development Unit (UNIDA), Laboratory of Genetics, Technological Institute of Veracruz, Veracruz, 91897, México.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramírez-Lepe
authors.affiliation: Area de Genética, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Campus de Sant Joan, Alicante, 03550, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vera
authors.affiliation: Multidisciplinary Institute for Environmental Studies (MIES) 'Ramon Margalef', Department of Marine Sciences and Applied Biology, University of Alicante, Aptdo. 99, Alicante, 03080, Spain.
authors.forename: Luis V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Lopez-Llorca
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000382:microbiology*; D003517:Cyclopentanes / Q000378:metabolism*; D035264:Flowers / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D017343:Genes, Plant; D006706:Homeostasis; D006999:Hypocreales / Q000502:physiology*; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D054883:Oxylipins / Q000378:metabolism*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology; D012098:Reproduction; D036226:Seedlings / Q000254:growth & development; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D003517:Cyclopentanes; D054883:Oxylipins; C011006:jasmonic acid
keywords: 
  Arabidopsis thaliana
  ; 
  Pochonia chlamydosporia
  ; flowering time; growth promotion; jasmonate (JA); stress response