Frontiers in plant–microbe interactions: part 2

Most land plant species enter a mutualistic symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi to improve nutrient acquisition from the soil. We found that up to 20% of host plant photosynthate is transferred to the mycorrhizal fungus mainly in the form of lipids and WRI5s are master regulators of AM symbiosis by controlling lipid transfer and peri-arbuscular membrane formation. We further revealed a PHR-centered arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis transcriptional regulatory network which connects the indirect mycorrhizal phosphate uptake pathway with the direct phosphate uptake pathway. Related to signal dialogue in mycorrhizal symbiosis, we identified a heteromer of LysM receptor-like kinases consisting of OsMYR1 (Mycorrhization factor receptor 1) and OsCERK1 that mediates the perception of Mycorrhization factor from AM fungi in rice. In this presentation, I will discuss our recent progresses on the mechanisms underlying beneficial plant-microbe interactions.

Biography

We focus on the genetics, biochemistry and cell biology of two symbiotic interactions of plants that can help to achieve higher crop yields with less usage of fertilizers: One is the arbuscular mycorrhizal association that helps the host plant to uptake nutrients from the soil and is especially important for plant acquisition of phosphate and nitrogen. The other is the rhizobial symbiosis that provides a source of nitrogen to the host plant. We propose to use diverse model plants including the monocot Oryza sativa and the eudicot Medicago truncatula to probe the complex genetic networks that underlie AM and rhizobial symbiosis. In addition, we propose to transfer our knowledge of the symbiosis into agronomical important food crops such as maize, wheat and rice to increase nutrient and water using efficiency, with the aim of boosting the food supply for future generations. Ertao Wang joined New Phytologist as an Associate Editor in the Interaction Section in 2020.