Enhanced nodulation of peanut when co-inoculated with fungal endophyte Phomopsis liquidambari and bradyrhizobium

Endomicrobiome of in vitro and natural plants deciphering the endophytes-associated secondary metabolite biosynthesis in Picrorhiza kurrooa, a Himalayan medicinal herb

IMPORTANCE

Picrorhiza kurrooa is a major source of picrosides, potent hepatoprotective molecules. Due to the ever-increasing demands, overexploitation has caused an extensive decline in its population in the wild and placed it in the endangered plants' category. At present plant in-vitro systems are widely used for the sustainable generation of P. kurrooa plants, and also for the conservation of other commercially important, rare, endangered, and threatened plant species. Furthermore, the in-vitro-generated plants had reduced content of therapeutic secondary metabolites compared to their wild counterparts, and the reason behind, not well-explored. Here, we revealed the loss of plant-associated endophytic communities during in-vitro propagation of P. kurrooa plants which also correlated to in-planta secondary metabolite biosynthesis. Therefore, this study emphasized to consider the essential role of plant-associated endophytic communities in in-vitro practices which may be the possible reason for reduced secondary metabolites in in-vitro plants.

Promotion of Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Growth by Plant Growth-Promoting Microorganisms

Brazil is an important peanut producer, but despite its high production, there still needs to be an inoculant for the peanut crop. In addition, the use of microorganisms that promote plant growth (PGPM) is not common, and this crop is highly dependent on chemical fertilizers. An excellent alternative to reduce the use of fertilizers and chemical inputs in peanut crops while reducing the production cost and environmental impact is the use of PGPM. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of Azospirillum brasilense, Bacillus subtilis, Bradyrhizobium japonicum, and Trichoderma harzianum as single inoculants and co-inoculants on the growth promotion and productivity of peanuts in greenhouse and field conditions. In the greenhouse, the experiment was conducted with 12 treatments with six repetitions. In the field conditions, the experiment was conducted with five treatments with four repetitions. Both experiments were conducted in randomized blocks. In general, all the microorganisms evaluated in the present study promoted increases in root dry mass, shoot dry mass, phosphorus concentrations, and plant height in the greenhouse and under field conditions compared with the control. Interestingly, the mixtures of microorganisms inoculated in peanut plants did not promote greater plant growth and development compared with inoculations of the microorganisms separately. Specifically, in the field, the highest productivity was found for the inoculation of B. japonicum alone. The PGPM evaluated in the present study for peanut crops generally promoted some increases in productivity in greenhouse and field conditions.

Co-inoculation of antagonistic Bacillus velezensis FH-1 and Brevundimonas diminuta NYM3 promotes rice growth by regulating the structure and nitrification function of rhizosphere microbiome

Microbial inoculation with plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPMs) is one of the most promising technologies to solve the current global challenges. Co-inoculants is more efficient and stable than mono-inoculants. However, the growth promoting mechanism of co-inoculants in complex soil system is still poorly understood. In this study, the effects on rice, soil and the microbiome of the mono-inoculant Bacillus velezensis FH-1 (F) and Brevundimonas diminuta NYM3 (N) and the co-inoculant FN obtained in previous works were compared. Correlation analysis and PLS-PM were used to explore the primary mechanism of different inoculants promoting rice growth. We hypothesized that inoculants promoted plant growth (i) by themselves, (ii) by improving soil nutrient availability or (iii) by regulating the rhizosphere microbiome in complex soil system. We also assumed that different inoculants had different ways of promoting plant growth. The results showed that FN significantly promoted rice growth and nitrogen absorption and slightly increased soil total nitrogen and microbial network complexity compared with F, N and the control (CK). B. velezensis FH-1 and B. diminuta NYM3 interfered with each other's colonization in FN. FN increased the complexity of the microbial network compared to F and N. The bacterial community of FN was quite different from CK and N, while the fungal community was not significantly different from other treatments. The species and functions enriched or inhibited by FN are part of F. The correlation analysis and PLS-PM results showed that inoculants (F/N/FN) promoted the growth of rice mainly by regulating the rhizosphere microbiome rather than by themselves or by improving soil nutrient availability. Co-inoculant FN promotes rice growth specifically by enhancing microbial nitrification function through enriching related species compared with F or N. This may provide theoretical guidance for the construction and application of co-inoculants in the future.

Crop-type-driven changes in polyphenols regulate soil nutrient availability and soil microbiota

Crop rotation is a typical agronomic practice to mitigate soil deterioration caused by continuous cropping. However, the mechanisms of soil biotic and abiotic factors in response to different cropping patterns in acidic and polyphenol-rich tea nurseries remain unclear. In this study, the composition and function of microbial communities were comparatively investigated in soils of tea seedlings continuously planted for 2 years (AC: autumn-cutting; SC: summer-cutting) and in soils rotation with strawberries alternately for 3 years (AR: autumn-cutting). The results showed that AR significantly improved the survival of tea seedlings but greatly reduced the contents of soil polyphenols. The lower soil polyphenol levels in AR were associated with the decline of nutrients (SOC, TN, Olsen-P) availability, which stimulates the proliferation of nutrient cycling-related bacteria and mixed-trophic fungi, endophytic fungi and ectomycorrhizal fungi, thus further satisfying the nutrient requirements of tea seedlings. Moreover, lower levels of polyphenols facilitated the growth of plant beneficial microorganisms (Bacillus, Mortierella, etc.) and suppressed pathogenic fungi (Pseudopestalotiopsis, etc.), creating a more balanced microbial community that is beneficial to plant health. Our study broadens the understanding of the ecological role of plant secondary metabolites and provides new insights into the sustainability of tea breeding.

Priming of rhizobial nodulation signaling in the mycosphere accelerates nodulation of legume hosts

The simultaneous symbiosis of leguminous plants with two root mutualists, endophytic fungi and rhizobia is common in nature, yet how two mutualists interact and co-exist before infecting plants and the concomitant effects on nodulation are less understood. Using a combination of metabolic analysis, fungal deletion mutants and comparative transcriptomics, we demonstrated that Bradyrhizobium and a facultatively biotrophic fungus, Phomopsis liquidambaris, interacted to stimulate fungal flavonoid production, and thereby primed Bradyrhizobial nodulation signaling, enhancing Bradyrhizobial responses to root exudates and leading to early nodulation of peanut (Arachis hypogaea), and such effects were compromised when disturbing fungal flavonoid biosynthesis. Stress sensitivity assays and reactive oxygen species (ROS) determination revealed that flavonoid production acted as a strategy to alleviate hyphal oxidative stress during P. liquidambaris-Bradyrhizobial interactions. By investigating the interactions between P. liquidambaris and a collection of 38 rhizobacteria, from distinct bacterial genera, we additionally showed that the flavonoid-ROS module contributed to the maintenance of fungal and bacterial co-existence, and fungal niche colonization under soil conditions. Our results demonstrate for the first time that rhizobial nodulation signaling can be primed by fungi before symbiosis with host plants and highlight the importance of flavonoid in tripartite interactions between legumes, beneficial fungi and rhizobia.

Endophytic Fungus Phomopsis liquidambaris Enhances Fe Absorption in Peanuts by Reducing Hydrogen Peroxide

Iron (Fe) deficiency in alkaline calcium soil is a problem that needs to be solved urgently as Fe is an essential and commonly limiting nutrient for plants. Endophytic fungus, Phomopsis liquidambaris (P. liquidambaris), has been reported to promote Fe absorption in peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.), however, the mechanisms remain unclear. Under prolonged Fe deficiency, an increase in hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) often triggers a series of signaling events and leads to the inhibition of Fe acquisition. The main purpose of this study was to explore whether and how the endophytic fungus P. liquidambaris promote Fe absorption in peanut through regulating H₂O₂ and assisting in resisting oxidative stress. In this study, we detected the Fe deficiency-induced transcription factor (FIT), Fe²⁺ transporter (IRT1), and ferric reduction oxidase 2 (FRO2) of peanuts, and confirmed that they were negatively related to Fe concentration. Similarly, FIT, IRT1, and FRO2 were also inhibited by H₂O₂. The addition of P. liquidambaris reduces H₂O₂ under Fe-deficiency with an increase in Fe content, while the exogenous addition of H₂O₂ further decreases it, and the addition of catalase (CAT) under Fe-deficiency reverses this phenomenon. Through transcriptome analysis, we proved that the expression of FIT, IRT1, FRO2 and CAT are consistent with our hypothesis, and P. liquidambaris has a stress-mitigating effect on peanuts mainly via CAT, glutathione peroxidase, and malondialdehyde. Our study proved the Fe-absorption promoting effect and stress mitigation effect of P. liquidambaris under Fe-deficiency in peanuts, and their combined usage may help peanuts grow better.

Overexpression of chitinase in the endophyte Phomopsis liquidambaris enhances wheat resistance to Fusarium graminearum

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a disease that affects wheat crops worldwide and is caused by Fusarium graminearum. Effective and safe strategies for the prevention and treatment of the disease are very limited. Phomopsis liquidambaris, a universal endophyte, can colonize wheat. Two engineered strains, Phomopsis liquidambaris OE-Chi and IN-Chi, were constructed by transformation with a plasmid and integration of a chitinase into the genome, respectively. The OE-Chi and IN-Chi strains could inhibit the expansion of Fusarium sp. in plate confrontation assays in vitro. Colonization of the OE-Chi strain in wheat showed better effects than colonization of the IN-Chi strain and alleviated the inhibition of wheat growth caused by F. graminearum. The shoot length, root length and fresh weight of infected wheat increased by 164.9%, 115.4%, and 190.7%, respectively, when the plants were inoculated with the OE-Chi strain. The peroxidase (POD) activity in the wheat root increased by 38.0%, and it was maintained at a high level in the shoot, which suggested that the OE-Chi strain could enhance the resistance of wheat to F. graminearum. The root and shoot superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were decreased by 11.8% and 19.0%, respectively, which may be helpful for colonization by the OE-Chi strain. These results suggested that the Phomopsis liquidambaris OE-Chi strain may be a potential endophyte in the biocontrol of FHB.

Comparative analysis of carbon and nitrogen metabolism, antioxidant indexes, polysaccharides and lobetyolin changes of different tissues from Codonopsis pilosula co-inoculated with Trichoderma

Codonopsis pilosula is a traditional Chinese herbal medicinal plant and contains various bioactive components, such as C. pilosula polysaccharides (CPPs) and lobetyolin (Lob). Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and nitric oxide (NO) are gaseous molecule and have been well known for their ability to relieve some adverse influences on plant from abiotic stress. Endophytic fungus is non-pathogenic plant-associated fungus that could play a significant role in improving plant tolerance by signal molecule. In this work, we determined how inoculation of Trichoderma strain RHTA01 with C. pilosula changed the plant's growth, metabolite accumulation, and related enzyme activity. Results demonstrated that application of Trichoderma strain RHTA01 significantly improved the growth of C. pilosula. Moreover, it noticeably decreased antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity in C. pilosula leaves, reduced the content of H₂O₂ and malondialdehyde (MDA), and weakened the peroxidation of cell membrane lipids, which reduced the damage of abiotic stress to C. pilosula. Research has shown that it had obvious effects on levels of nitrogen and carbon metabolic enzymes. For example, sucrose synthase (SS) and acid invertase (AI) levels in C. pilosula roots were nearly 1.43 and 1.7 times higher, respectively, than those in the control (CK) group. In addition, it was notable that the production of CPPs and Lob, the most significant secondary metabolites in C. pilosula, were influenced by Trichoderma strain RHTA01. The obtained results indicate that inoculating C. pilosula with Trichoderma stimulates the carbon and nitrogen metabolism of the plant, and helps to increase the content of CPPs and Lob in the root of the plant.

Physiological impact of flavonoids on nodulation and ureide metabolism in legume plants

Legume plants from Fabaceae family (phylogenetic group composed by three subfamilies: Caesalpinioideae, Mimosoideae, and Papilionoideae) can fix atmospheric nitrogen (N₂) into ammonia (NH₃) by the symbiotic relationship with rhizobia bacteria. These bacteria respond chemotactically to certain compounds released by plants such as sugars, amino acids and organic acids. Root secretion of isoflavonoids acts as inducers for nod genes in rhizobia and ABC transporters and ICHG (isoflavone conjugates hydrolyzing beta-glucosidase) at apoplast are related to the exudation of genistein and daidzein in soybean roots. Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) occurs inside the nodule by the action of nitrogenase enzyme, which fixes N₂ into NH₃, which is converted into ureides (allantoin and allantoic acid). In this review, we bring together the latest findings on flavonoids biosynthesis and ureide metabolism in several legume plant species. We emphasize how flavonoids induce nod genes in rhizobia, affecting chemotaxis, nodulation, ureide production, growth and yield of legume plants. Mainly, isoflavonoids daidzein and genistein are responsible for nod genes activation in the rhizobia bacteria. Flavonoids also play an important role during nodule organogenesis by acting as auxin transporter inhibitors in root cells, especially in indeterminate nodules. The ureides are the main N transport form in tropical legumes and they are catabolized in leaves and other sink tissues to produce amino acids and proteins needed for plant growth and yield.

Activation of Naringenin and Kaempferol through Pathway Refactoring in the Endophyte Phomopsis Liquidambaris

Abundant gene clusters of natural products are observed in the endophytic fungus Phomopsis liquidambaris; however, most of them are silent. Herein, a plug-and-play DNA assembly tool has been applied for flavonoid synthesis in P. liquidambaris. A shuttle plasmid was constructed based on S. cerevisiae, E. coli, and P. liquidambaris with screening markers URA, Amp, and hygR, respectively. Each fragment or cassette was successively assembled by overlap extension PCR with at least 40-50 bp homologous arms in S. cerevisiae for generating a new vector. Seven native promoters were screened by the DNA assembly based on the fluorescence intensity of the mCherry reporter gene in P. liquidambaris, and two of them were new promoters. The key enzyme chalcone synthase was the limiting step of the pathway. The naringenin and kaempferol pathways were refactored and activated with the titers of naringenin and kaempferol of 121.53 mg/L and 75.38 mg/L in P. liquidambaris using fed-batch fermentation, respectively. This study will be efficient and helpful for the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites.

Root endophyte-enhanced peanut-rhizobia interaction is associated with regulation of root exudates

Root exudates play a crucial role in the symbiosis between leguminous plants and rhizobia. Our previous studies have shown that a fungal endophyte Phomopsis liquidambaris promotes peanut-rhizobia nodulation and nitrogen fixation, but the underlying mechanism are largely unknown. Here, we explore the role of peanut root exudates in Ph. liquidambaris-mediated nodulation enhancement. We first collected root exudates from Ph. liquidambaris-inoculated and un-inoculated peanuts and determined their effects on rhizobial growth, biofilm formation, chemotaxis, nodC gene expression, and peanut nodulation. Our results found a positive effect of Ph. liquidambaris-inoculated root exudates on these characteristics of rhizobia. Next, we compared the root exudates profile of Ph. liquidambaris-inoculated and un-inoculated plants and found that Ph. liquidambaris altered the concentrations of phenolic acids, flavonoids, organic acids and amino acids in root exudates. Furthermore, the rhizobial chemotaxis, growth and biofilm formation in response to the changed compounds at different concentrations showed that all of the test compounds induced rhizobial chemotactic behavior, and organic acids (citric acid and oxalic acid) and amino acid (glutamate, glycine and glutamine) at higher concentrations increased rhizobial growth and biofilm formation. Collectively, our results suggest that root exudates alterations contribute to Ph. liquidambaris-mediated peanut-rhizobia nodulation enhancement.

Mycelial network-mediated rhizobial dispersal enhances legume nodulation

The access of rhizobia to legume host is a prerequisite for nodulation. Rhizobia are poorly motile in soil, while filamentous fungi are known to grow extensively across soil pores. Since root exudates-driven bacterial chemotaxis cannot explain rhizobial long-distance dispersal, mycelia could constitute ideal dispersal networks to help rhizobial enrichment in the legume rhizosphere from bulk soil. Thus, we hypothesized that mycelia networks act as vectors that enable contact between rhizobia and legume and influence subsequent nodulation. By developing a soil microcosm system, we found that a facultatively biotrophic fungus, Phomopsis liquidambaris, helps rhizobial migration from bulk soil to the peanut (Arachis hypogaea) rhizosphere and, hence, triggers peanut-rhizobium nodulation but not seen in the absence of mycelia. Assays of dispersal modes suggested that cell proliferation and motility mediated rhizobial dispersal along mycelia, and fungal exudates might contribute to this process. Furthermore, transcriptomic analysis indicated that genes associated with the cell division, chemosensory system, flagellum biosynthesis, and motility were regulated by Ph. liquidambaris, thus accounting for the detected rhizobial dispersal along hyphae. Our results indicate that rhizobia use mycelia as dispersal networks that migrate to legume rhizosphere and trigger nodulation. This work highlights the importance of mycelial network-based bacterial dispersal in legume-rhizobium symbiosis.

Flowering-mediated root-fungus symbiosis loss is related to jasmonate-dependent root soluble sugar deprivation

The role of flowering in root-fungal symbiosis is not well understood. Because flowering and fungal symbionts are supported by carbohydrates, we hypothesized that flowering modulates root-beneficial fungal associations through alterations in carbohydrate metabolism and transport. We monitored fungal colonization and soluble sugars in the roots of Arabidopsis thaliana following inoculation with a mutualistic fungus Phomopsis liquidambari across different plant developmental stages. Jasmonate signalling of wild-type plants, sugar transport, and root invertase of wild-type and jasmonate-insensitive plants were exploited to assess whether and how jasmonate-dependent sugar dynamics are involved in flowering-mediated fungal colonization alterations. We found that flowering restricts root-fungal colonization and activates root jasmonate signalling upon fungal inoculation. Jasmonates reduce the constitutive and fungus-induced accumulation of root glucose and fructose at the flowering stage. Further experiments with sugar transport and metabolism mutant lines revealed that root glucose and fructose positively influence fungal colonization. Diurnal, jasmonate-dependent inhibitions of sugar transport and soluble invertase activity were identified as likely mechanisms for flowering-mediated root sugar depletion upon fungal inoculation. Collectively, our results reveal that flowering drives root-fungus cooperation loss, which is related to jasmonate-dependent root soluble sugar depletion. Limiting the spread of root-fungal colonization may direct more resources to flower development.

Endophytic Fungus Drives Nodulation and N2 Fixation Attributable to Specific Root Exudates

Endophytic fungi play an important role in balancing the ecosystem and boosting host growth; however, the underpinning mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we found that endophytic fungal colonization with P. liquidambaris significantly increased the productivity, nodulation, and N₂ fixation of peanuts through the secretion of specific root exudates. We provide a reasonable mechanism explaining how P. liquidambaris promotes peanut nodulation and N₂ fixation, whereby the specific root exudates produced by P. liquidambaris colonization decrease rhizosphere soil nitrate (NO3⁻) and increase the population and biological activities of peanut-nodulating-related Bradyrhizobium strains, which is beneficial to enhancing the peanut-Bradyrhizobium symbiotic interaction. Our study provides reliable empirical evidence to show the mechanism of how an exotic endophytic fungus drives an increase in nodulation and N₂ fixation, which will be helpful in erecting a resource-efficient and sustainable agricultural system.

Endophytic fungi play important roles in the modification of ecosystem productivity; however, the underlying mechanisms are only partly understood. A 2-year field plot experiment verified that the endophytic fungus Phomopsis liquidambaris increased peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) yields and significantly increased nodulation and N₂ fixation regardless of whether N fertilizers were added. Root exudates collected from P. liquidambaris-colonized plants significantly improved nodulation and N₂ fixation. Rhizosphere stimulation experiments further showed that colonized root exudates had significantly decreased soil nitrate (NO₃⁻) concentrations, with decreased abundance and diversity of ammonia oxidizing archaea (AOA). In contrast, the abundance and diversity of diazotrophs significantly increased, and most diazotrophs identified were peanut nodulation-related strains (Bradyrhizobium sp.). P. liquidambaris symbiosis increased the expression of phenolic and flavonoid synthesis-related genes, and the derived phenolics and flavonoids could effectively increase the chemotaxis, biofilm formation, and nodC gene expression (nodulation-related biological processes) of the Bradyrhizobium strain. Metabolic pattern analysis showed that phenolics and flavonoids are more likely to accumulate to higher levels in the rhizosphere soil of peanuts colonized with P. liquidambaris. Finally, a synthetic root exudate experiment further confirmed the underlying mechanisms for the P. liquidambaris-induced improvement in nodulation and N₂ fixation, i.e., that the specific root exudates derived from P. liquidambaris colonization decrease nitrate concentration and increase the population and biological activities of peanut nodulation-related Bradyrhizobium species, which beneficially enhance peanut-Bradyrhizobium interactions. Therefore, this study is the first to provide new insight into a positive relationship between an exotic endophytic fungus, crop nodulation, and N₂ fixation increase.

Phomopsis liquidambari colonization promotes continuous cropping peanut growth by improving the rhizosphere microenvironment, nutrient uptake and disease incidence

BACKGROUND

The continuous cropping of peanuts is a primary cause of yield and quality loss. Solutions to this problem should be therefore developed to ensure the sustainability of peanut production.

RESULTS

In this study, colonization by the endophytic fungus Phomopsis liquidambari was detected, which led to significantly improved rhizosphere soil microenvironment, enhanced N, P and K assimilation and suppressed incidence of peanut disease. Statistical analysis demonstrated that the yield enhancement was significantly correlated with improvement of the rhizosphere soil microenvironment and the peanut's physiological status by P. liquidambari colonization. In addition, P. liquidambari colonization also significantly improved peanut quality.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that the practical application of the endophytic fungus P. liquidambari has a strong potential to alleviate the obstacles associated with continuous peanut cropping under field conditions. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Reductive soil disinfestation effectively alleviates the replant failure of Sanqi ginseng through allelochemical degradation and pathogen suppression

Replant failure has threatened the production of Sanqi ginseng (Panax notoginseng) mainly due to the accumulation of soil-borne pathogens and allelochemicals. Reductive soil disinfestation (RSD) is an effective practice used to eliminate soil-borne pathogens; however, the potential impact of RSD on the degradation of allelochemicals and the growth of replant Sanqi ginseng seedlings remain poorly understood. In this study, RSD was conducted on a Sanqi ginseng monoculture system (SGMS) and a maize-Sanqi ginseng system (MSGS), defined as SGMS_RSD and MSGS_RSD, respectively. The aim was to investigate the impact of RSD on allelochemicals, soil microbiomes, and survival rates of replant seedlings. Both short-term maize planting and RSD treatment significantly degraded the ginsenosides in Sanqi ginseng-cultivated soils, with the degradation rate being higher in the RSD treatment. The population of Fusarium oxysporum and the relative abundance of genus Fusarium were dramatically suppressed by RSD treatment. Furthermore, the RSD treatment, but not maize planting, markedly alleviated the replant failure of Sanqi ginseng, with the seedling survival rate being 52.7-70.7% 6 months after transplanting. Interestingly, RSD followed by short-term maize planting promoted microbial activity restoration, ginsenoside degradation, and ultimately alleviated the replant failure much better than RSD treatment alone (70.7% vs. 52.7%). Collectively, these results indicate that RSD treatment could considerably reduce the obstacles and might also act as a potential agriculture regime for overcoming the replant failure of Sanqi ginseng. Additional practices, such as crop rotation, beneficial microorganism inoculation, etc. may also still be needed to ensure the long-term efficacy of seedling survival.

Evidence for the Involvement of Auxin, Ethylene and ROS Signaling During Primary Root Inhibition of Arabidopsis by the Allelochemical Benzoic Acid

Allelopathy is mediated by plant-derived secondary metabolites (allelochemicals) which are released by donor plants and affect the growth and development of receptor plants. The plant root is the first organ which senses soil allelochemicals this results in the production of a shorter primary root. However, the mechanisms underlying this process remain elusive. Here, we report that a model allelochemical benzoic acid (BA) inhibited primary root elongation of Arabidopsis seedlings by reducing the sizes of both the meristem and elongation zones, and that auxin signaling affected this process. An increase in auxin level in the root tips was associated with increased expression of auxin biosynthesis genes and auxin polar transporter AUX1 and PIN2 genes under BA stress. Mutant analyses demonstrated that AUX1 and PIN2 rather than PIN1 were required for the inhibition of primary root elongation during BA exposure. Furthermore, BA stimulated ethylene evolution, whereas blocking BA-induced ethylene signaling with an ethylene biosynthesis inhibitor (Co2+), an ethylene perception antagonist (1-methylcyclopropene) or ethylene signaling mutant lines etr1-3 and ein3eil1 compromised BA-mediated inhibition of root elongation and up-regulation of auxin biosynthesis-related genes together with AUX1 and PIN2, indicating that ethylene signal was involved in auxin-mediated inhibition of primary root elongation during BA stress. Further analysis revealed that the BA-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) burst contributed to BA-mediated root growth inhibition without affecting auxin and ethylene signals. Taken together, our results reveal that the allelochemical BA inhibits root elongation by increasing auxin accumulation via stimulation of auxin biosynthesis and AUX1/PIN2-mediated auxin transport via stimulation of ethylene production and an auxin/ethylene-independent ROS burst.

Auxin signalling of Arachis hypogaea activated by colonization of mutualistic fungus Phomopsis liquidambari enhances nodulation and N2 -fixation

Beneficial fungal and rhizobial symbioses share commonalities in phytohormones responses, especially in auxin signalling. Mutualistic fungus Phomopsis liquidambari effectively increases symbiotic efficiency of legume peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) with another microsymbiont, bradyrhizobium, but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. We quantified and manipulated the IAA accumulation in ternary P. liquidambari-peanut-bradyrhizobial interactions to uncover its role between distinct symbioses. We found that auxin signalling is both locally and systemically induced by the colonization of P. liquidambari with peanut and further confirmed by Arabidopsis harbouring auxin-responsive reporter, DR5:GUS, and that auxin action, including auxin transport, is required to maintain fungal symbiotic behaviours and beneficial traits of plant during the symbiosis. Complementation and action inhibition experiments reveal that auxin signalling is involved in P. liquidambari-mediated nodule development and N₂ -fixation enhancement and symbiotic gene activation. Further analyses showed that blocking of auxin action compromised the P. liquidambari-induced nodule phenotype and physiology changes, including vascular bundle development, symbiosome and bacteroids density, and malate concentrations, while induced the accumulation of starch granules in P. liquidambari-inoculated nodules. Collectively, our study demonstrated that auxin signalling activated by P. liquidambari symbiosis is recruited by peanut for bradyrhizobial symbiosis via symbiotic signalling pathway activation and nodule carbon metabolism enhancement.

Endophytic Pseudomonas induces metabolic flux changes that enhance medicinal sesquiterpenoid accumulation in Atractylodes lancea

The bacterial endophyte Pseudomonas fluorescens ALEB7B significantly enhances photosynthate accumulations in Atractylodes lancea. These carbohydrates are preferentially used by the host plant to synthesize secondary metabolites, rather than to increase plant biomass accumulation. Mechanisms underlying the allocation of endophyte-increased carbohydrate in different plant metabolic processes are largely unknown. We have studied how P. fluorescens ALEB7B enhances photosynthate accumulation and how bacterial elicitors regulate metabolic flux and increase medicinal sesquiterpenoid formation in A. lancea using the sterile tissue culture plantlets. P. fluorescens ALEB7B enhances plant photosynthate accumulation by synthesizing and secreting indole-3-acetic acid, which has been demonstrated using high-performance liquid chromatography analysis. The increased endogenous indole-3-acetic acid promotes plant root development and then assimilation. Increased carbohydrates provide the material basis for the formations of terpenoid hydrocarbon scaffolds, which has been proved using gas chromatography analysis. Further, protein and polysaccharide elicitors secreted by P. fluorescens ALEB7B have been separated and purified from the bacterial fermentation broth, which have been applied to A. lancea plantlets. Both elicitors can stimulate the conversions of terpenoid hydrocarbon scaffolds to oxygenous sesquiterpenoids, the active medicinal ingredients in A. lancea, by triggering the oxidative burst in planta. Moreover, this study separates an ABC transporter substrate-binding protein from protein elicitors secreted by P. fluorescens ALEB7B with an ÄKTA Prime Plus Purifier System and firstly shows that this protein is essential to induce oxygenous sesquiterpenoid accumulation in A. lancea. This study provides new perspectives for mechanisms of medicinal oxygenous terpenoid synthesis, which has important reference values to the cultivation of medicinal plants that have terpenoids as their active ingredients, such as Artemisia annua and Taxus chinensis.

The Endophytic Fungus Phomopsis liquidambari Increases Nodulation and N2 Fixation in Arachis hypogaea by Enhancing Hydrogen Peroxide and Nitric Oxide Signalling

The continuous cropping obstacles in monoculture fields are a major production constraint for peanuts. Application of the endophytic fungus Phomopsis liquidambari has increased peanut yields, and nodulation and N₂ fixation increases have been considered as important factors for P. liquidambari infection-improved peanut yield. However, the mechanisms involved in this process remain unknown. This work showed that compared with only Bradyrhizobium inoculation, co-inoculation with P. liquidambari significantly elevated endogenous H₂O₂ and NO levels in peanut roots. Pre-treatment of seedlings with specific scavengers of H₂O₂ (CAT) and NO (cPTIO) blocked P. liquidambari-induced nodulation and N₂ fixation. CAT not only suppressed the P. liquidambari-induced nodulation and N₂ fixation, but also suppressed the enhanced H₂O₂ and NO generation. Nevertheless, the cPTIO did not significantly inhibit the induced H₂O₂ biosynthesis, implying that H₂O₂ acted upstream of NO production. These results were confirmed by observations that exogenous H₂O₂ and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) reversed the inhibition of P. liquidambari-increased nodulation and N₂ fixation by the specific scavengers. The transcriptional activities of the symbiosis-related genes SymRK and CCaMK of peanut-Bradyrhizobium interactions also increased significantly in response to P. liquidambari, H₂O₂ and SNP treatments. The pot experiment further confirmed that the P. liquidambari infection-enhanced H₂O₂ and NO signalling pathways were significantly related to the increase in peanut nodulation and N₂ fixation. This is the first report that endophytic fungus P. liquidambari can increase peanut-Bradyrhizobium interactions via enhanced H₂O₂/NO-dependent signalling crosstalk, which is conducive to the alleviation of continuous cropping obstacles via an increase in nodulation and N₂ fixation.

Screening of mercury-resistant and indole-3-acetic acid producing bacterial-consortium for growth promotion of Cicer arietinum L

Mercury resistant (Hg^R ) bacteria were screened from industrial effluents and effluents-polluted rhizosphere soils near to districts Kasur and Sheikhupura, Pakistan. Out of 60 isolates, three bacterial strains, Bacillus sp. AZ-1, Bacillus cereus AZ-2, and Enterobacter cloacae AZ-3 showed Hg-resistance as 20 μg ml^-1 of HgCl₂ and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production as 8-38 μg ml^-1 . Biochemical and molecular characterization of selected bacteria was confirmed by 16S ribotyping. Mercury resistant genes merA, merB, and merE of mer operon in Bacillus spp. were checked by PCR amplification. The merE gene involved in the transportation of elemental mercury (Hg⁰ ) via cell membrane was first time cloned into pHLV vector and transformed in C43(DE3) Escherichia coli cells. The recombinant plasmid (pHLMerE) was expressed and purified by nickel (Ni⁺² ) affinity chromatography. Chromatographic techniques viz. thin layer chromatography (TLC), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) confirmed the presence of Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in supernatant of selected bacteria. The strain E. cloacae AZ-3 detoxified 88% of mercury (Hg⁺² ) from industrial effluent (p < 0.05) after immobilization in Na-alginate beads. Finally, Hg-resistant and IAA producing bacterial consortium of two strains, Bacillus sp. AZ-1 and E. cloacae AZ-3, inoculated in mercury amended soil with 20 μg ml^-1 HgCl₂ resulted 80, 22, 64, 116, 50, 75, 30, and 100% increase as compared to control plants in seed germination, shoot and root length, shoot and root fresh weight, number of pods per plant, number of seeds and weight of seeds, respectively, of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in pot experiments (p < 0.05).

Endophytic fungus Phomopsis liquidambari and different doses of N-fertilizer alter microbial community structure and function in rhizosphere of rice

Microbial community structure and functions of rhizosphere soil of rice were investigated after applying low and high doses of nitrogenous fertilizer and Phomopsis liquidambari. Average well color development, substrate richness, catabolic diversity and soil enzymes activities varied after applying N-fertilizer and P. liquidambari and were greater in P. liquidambari treated soil than only N-fertilization. Multivariate analysis distinctly separated the catabolic and enzymes activity profile which statistically proved alteration of microbial functional diversity. Nitrogen fertilizer altered microbial community structure revealed by the increased content of total PLFAs, specific subgroup marker PLFAs except fungal PLFAs and by the decreased ratio of G(+)/G(-), sat/monunsat, iso/anteiso, F/B except trans/cis while P. liquidambari inoculation enhanced N-fertilization effect except increased fungal PLFA and decreased trans/cis. PCA using identified marker PLFAs revealed definite discrimination among the treatments which further statistically confirmed structural changed of microbial community. Nitrogenase activity representative of N-fixing community decreased in N-fertilizer treatment while P. liquidambari inoculation increased. In short, application of P. liquidambari with low doses of N-fertilizer improved rice growth and reduced N-fertilizer requirement by increasing enzymes activities involved in C, N and P cycling, structural and functional diversity of microbes, nitrogenase activity involved in N2 fixation and accumulation of total-N.