1
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Demiwal P, Saini PK, Kumar M, Roy P, Verma MK, Mir JI, Sircar D. The root-derived syringic acid and shoot-to-root phytohormone signaling pathways play a critical role in preventing apple scab disease. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2025; 355:112457. [PMID: 40049524 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2025.112457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2024] [Revised: 02/03/2025] [Accepted: 03/02/2025] [Indexed: 03/16/2025]
Abstract
Apple scab is a serious disease that has a huge economic impact. While some cultivars of apple are scab-resistant, most are not. Growing research has suggested that root-derived metabolites play a vital role in conferring resistance to aboveground pathogens through the long-distance signaling system between shoot and root. In this work, leaves of scab-resistant cultivar 'Prima' (PRM) and scab-susceptible cultivar 'Red Delicious' (RD) were challenged by Venturia inaequalis, and the resulting metabolic reprogramming in root tissues was monitored using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-based metabolomics in time-course fashion. Metabolomics has revealed that scab fungus causes metabolic reprogramming in underground root tissue when above-ground parts (leaves) are infected. After scab infection in the above-ground leaf tissue, syringic acid is synthesized in the root tissue and transported from the root to the aerial part through vascular tissue. The increased level of reactive oxygen species and jasmonic acid (JA) across roots suggests a signaling pathway from infected leaves triggered by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). In this study, it was found that leaf infection with scab produces H2O2. In aerial parts infected with scab, H2O2 may act as a signaling molecule to trigger JA production. By travelling from the aerial part (shoot) to the root, H2O2 and JA act as long-distance signaling molecules, stimulating magnesium uptake, and eventually enhancing phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity. A metabolic reprogramming of the root tissue is initiated by H2O2, JA and PAL activity. Root metabolic reprograming results in the formation of syringic acid, which travels from the roots to the aerial part through vascular tissue and helps fight scab fungal infections. The present study demonstrated that scab infection in apple leaves is associated with long distance signaling from shoot to root, in which root-derived specialized metabolites make their way to aerial parts and confer resistance to scab.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pratibha Demiwal
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand 247667, India
| | - Parikshit Kumar Saini
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand 247667, India
| | - Mukund Kumar
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand 247667, India
| | - Partha Roy
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand 247667, India
| | - Mahendra Kumar Verma
- Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture (ICAR-CITH), Srinagar, J&K 190 005, India
| | - Javid Iqbal Mir
- Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture (ICAR-CITH), Srinagar, J&K 190 005, India
| | - Debabrata Sircar
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand 247667, India.
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2
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Paddock KJ, Corcoran JA. Life-stage dependent behavior mimics chemosensory repertoire diversity in a belowground, specialist herbivore. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2025; 15:jkaf041. [PMID: 39999386 PMCID: PMC12060231 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkaf041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2025] [Accepted: 02/18/2025] [Indexed: 02/27/2025]
Abstract
Insects rely on the translation of environmental chemical cues into behaviors necessary for survival and reproduction. Specific chemosensory receptors belonging to the odorant and gustatory receptor groups detect odorant and gustatory cues, respectively, making them crucial to these processes. How odorant (OR) and gustatory (GR) receptor expression profiles change in combination with changing life strategies is not well understood. Using genomic and transcriptomic resources, we annotated the OR and GR expression profiles across all life stages of the western corn rootworm (WCR), Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, a major pest of corn in the United States and Europe. Genomic analyses identified 193 ORs and 189 GRs, of which 125 and 116 were found to be expressed, respectively, in one or more WCR life stages. WCR larvae are subterranean and feed on roots before emerging as adults aboveground. Expression profile analyses revealed first instar larvae possess a unique OR and GR repertoire distinct from other instars and adults, suggesting a role in host plant finding. Similarly, a subset of ORs and GRs differed in their expression levels between adult male and female antennae. By comparing the phylogenetic relationship of ORs and GRs, we identified several receptors with potentially important roles in WCR foraging and reproductive behavior. Together, this study provides support for future investigations into the ecology and evolution of chemoreception in insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle J Paddock
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Biological Control of Insects Research Laboratory, Columbia, MO 65203, USA
| | - Jacob A Corcoran
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Biological Control of Insects Research Laboratory, Columbia, MO 65203, USA
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3
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McLaughlin S, Himmighofen P, Khan SA, Siffert A, Robert CAM, Sasse J. Root Exudation: An In-Depth Experimental Guide. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2025; 48:3052-3065. [PMID: 39676732 DOI: 10.1111/pce.15311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2024] [Indexed: 12/17/2024]
Abstract
Plants exude a wide variety of compounds into the rhizosphere, modulating soil functioning and diversity. The number of studies investigating exudation has exponentially increased over the past decades. Yet, the high inter-study variability of the results is slowing down our understanding of root-soil interactions. This variability is partly due to the absence of harmonized methodologies to collect and characterize exudation. Here, we discuss how various experimental aspects influence exudation profiles by performing a literature review, and we suggest best practices for different experimental setups. We discuss state-of-the-art of spatially resolved exudate collection, collection in controlled versus field conditions and plant growth setups ranging from hydroponics to soil. We highlight the importance of preparing experimental blanks, in situ versus ex situ exudate collection, various collection media and timing of collection, exudate storage and processing and analytical considerations. We summarize best practices for experimental setup and reporting of parameters in an easily accessible table format to facilitate discussion of best practices in the field. An increased standardization in the field together with the systematic studies suggested will improve our knowledge of how plant exudation shapes interactions with organisms in soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah McLaughlin
- Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Paul Himmighofen
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sheharyar A Khan
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Alexandra Siffert
- Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | | | - Joëlle Sasse
- Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
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4
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Robert CAM, Himmighofen P, McLaughlin S, Cofer TM, Khan SA, Siffert A, Sasse J. Environmental and Biological Drivers of Root Exudation. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PLANT BIOLOGY 2025; 76:317-339. [PMID: 40063678 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-arplant-083123-082752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2025]
Abstract
Root exudation is the process by which plants release organic and inorganic metabolites from their roots into the surrounding soil. Root exudation is a dynamic process and shapes plant-environment interactions at the root-soil interface. Little is known about the biological and environmental factors that shape the exuded metabolome, hereafter referred to as the exudome, despite its importance in structuring soil processes. Here, we emphasize plant physiological and morphological traits that modulate the exudome in a species- and developmental stage-specific manner. We further discuss how environmental factors drive exudation processes. We highlight evidence of a potential circadian exudation rhythm and further illustrate how the physical (temperature, structure), chemical (moisture, pH, nutrients, pollutants), and biological (micro- and macrofauna) properties of soil alter the root exudome composition and release patterns. Exploring the factors that directly or indirectly modulate exudation will enhance our understanding of how this dynamic process mediates plant-environment interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paul Himmighofen
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland;
| | - Sarah McLaughlin
- Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland;
| | - Tristan M Cofer
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland;
| | | | - Alexandra Siffert
- Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland;
| | - Joëlle Sasse
- Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland;
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5
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Wasimuddin, Chiaia-Hernandez A, Terrettaz C, Thoenen L, Caggìa V, Mateo P, Coll-Crespi M, Notter M, Mukherjee M, Chavez-Capilla T, Ronchi F, Ganal-Vonarburg SC, Grosjean M, Bigalke M, Spielvogel S, Macpherson A, Mestrot A, Hapfelmeier S, Erb M, Schlaeppi K, Ramette A. Component specific responses of the microbiomes to common chemical stressors in the human food chain. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOME 2025; 20:43. [PMID: 40296074 PMCID: PMC12039292 DOI: 10.1186/s40793-025-00700-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2025] [Indexed: 04/30/2025]
Abstract
Along a food chain, microbiomes occur in each component and often contribute to the functioning or the health of their host or environment. 'One Health' emphasizes the connectivity of each component's health. Chemical stress typically causes dysbiotic microbiomes, but it remains unclear whether chemical stressors consistently affect the microbiomes of food chain components. Here, we challenged food chain components, including water, sediments, soil, plants, and animals, with three chemical stresses consisting of arsenic (toxic trace element), benzoxazinoids (bioactive plant metabolites), and terbuthylazine (herbicide). We analysed 1064 microbiomes to assess their commonalities and differences in their stress responses. We found that chemical stressors overall decreased microbiome diversity in soil, but not in the other microbiomes. In response to stress, all food chain communities strongly shifted in their composition, generally becoming compositionally more similar to each other. In addition, we observed stochastic effects in host-associated communities (plant, animal). Dysbiotic microbiomes were characterized by different sets of bacteria, which responded specifically to the three chemical stressors. Microbial co-occurrence patterns significantly shifted with either decreased (water, sediment, plant, animal) or increased (soil) network sparsity and numbers of keystone taxa following stress treatments. These results suggest major re-distribution of specific taxa in the overall stress- and component-specific responses of microbiomes with the community stability of plant and animal microbiomes being the most affected by chemical stresses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wasimuddin
- Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Food Safety and Animal Health Research, Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Ås, Norway
| | - Aurea Chiaia-Hernandez
- Institute of Geography, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Oeschger Center for Climate Change Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Céline Terrettaz
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Lisa Thoenen
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Veronica Caggìa
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Pierre Mateo
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Matheus Notter
- Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Mohana Mukherjee
- Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Francesca Ronchi
- Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department for BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Stephanie C Ganal-Vonarburg
- Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department for BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Martin Grosjean
- Institute of Geography, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Oeschger Center for Climate Change Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Moritz Bigalke
- Institute of Geography, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Institute of Applied Geoscience, Technical University Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Sandra Spielvogel
- Institute for Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, Christian Albrechts University Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Andrew Macpherson
- Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department for BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Adrien Mestrot
- Institute of Geography, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Matthias Erb
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Klaus Schlaeppi
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Alban Ramette
- Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
- Multidisciplinary Center for Infectious Diseases (MCID), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
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6
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Xu S, Gaquerel E. Evolution of plant specialized metabolites: beyond ecological drivers. TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2025:S1360-1385(25)00044-5. [PMID: 40113551 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2025.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2024] [Revised: 02/17/2025] [Accepted: 02/19/2025] [Indexed: 03/22/2025]
Abstract
Plants produce a highly diverse array of specialized metabolites. Traditionally, the evolution of these metabolites has been studied primarily through the lens of plants' ecological interactions with herbivores, pathogens, and pollinators, as many of them exhibit defense and/or attraction functions. However, increasing evidence suggests that many specialized metabolites, along with their precursors, also act as cellular signals that regulate cell growth and differentiation. We propose that these intrinsic functions are at least equally important factors in shaping the evolution of plant chemical defenses. We further discuss how future research that combines modern single-cell techniques and evolutionary genomics will provide novel insights into the evolutionary process of specialized metabolism diversification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuqing Xu
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution (iomE), University of Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany.
| | - Emmanuel Gaquerel
- Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes du CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
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7
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Cawood GL, Ton J. Decoding resilience: ecology, regulation, and evolution of biosynthetic gene clusters. TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2025; 30:185-198. [PMID: 39393973 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2024.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2024] [Revised: 08/28/2024] [Accepted: 09/13/2024] [Indexed: 10/13/2024]
Abstract
Secondary metabolism is crucial for plant survival and can generate chemistry with nutritional, therapeutic, and industrial value. Biosynthetic genes of selected secondary metabolites cluster within localised chromosomal regions. The arrangement of these biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) challenges the long-held model of random gene order in eukaryotes, raising questions about their regulation, ecological significance, and evolution. In this review, we address these questions by exploring the contribution of BGCs to ecologically relevant plant-biotic interactions, while also evaluating the molecular-(epi)genetic mechanisms controlling their coordinated stress- and tissue-specific expression. Based on evidence that BGCs have distinct chromatin signatures and are enriched with transposable elements (TEs), we integrate emerging hypotheses into an updated evolutionary model emphasising how stress-induced epigenetic processes have shaped BGC formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Lister Cawood
- Plants, Photosynthesis and Soil, School of Biosciences, The University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK.
| | - Jurriaan Ton
- Plants, Photosynthesis and Soil, School of Biosciences, The University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK.
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8
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Zhang H, Guo D, Lei Y, Lozano-Torres JL, Deng Y, Xu J, Hu L. Cover crop rotation suppresses root-knot nematode infection by shaping soil microbiota. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2025; 245:363-377. [PMID: 39468918 DOI: 10.1111/nph.20220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 10/03/2024] [Indexed: 10/30/2024]
Abstract
Cover crop integration into grain crop rotations is a promising strategy for mitigating nematode-induced diseases in agriculture. However, the precise mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain elusive. Here, we first assessed the impact of five commonly used cover crops on the suppression of rice root-knot nematodes (RKNs). We then chose ryegrass as a model to explore the mechanistic basis of the suppression effect. Contrary to expectations, while ryegrass rotation significantly enhances soil fertility, this increased fertility has minimal impact on RKN suppression. Furthermore, neither integrated ryegrass residues nor root exudates exhibit direct toxicity towards RKNs. We demonstrated that ryegrass rotation primarily suppresses RKNs by enriching beneficial soil microbiota. By complementing with isolated bacteria strains, we further demonstrated that ryegrass-enriched bacteria not only directly reduce RKN infectivity and preference, but also activate plant immunity via the OsLRR-RLK-MAPK-WRKY-JA cascade, thereby diminishing RKN infection. Our study highlights the crucial role of soil microbiota in plant-nematode interactions, challenging conventional views on the direct effects of cover crops in nematode suppression. It offers a mechanistic understanding of the regulation potential and action modes of cover crops in mitigating nematode diseases, providing valuable insights for sustainable agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hualiang Zhang
- Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Dongsheng Guo
- Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Hainan Institute of Zhejiang University, Yazhou District, Sanya, 572025, China
| | - Yuting Lei
- Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Jose L Lozano-Torres
- Laboratory of Nematology, Wageningen University and Research, 6708 PB, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Ye Deng
- CAS Key Laboratory for Environmental Biotechnology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China
| | - Jianming Xu
- Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Lingfei Hu
- Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Hainan Institute of Zhejiang University, Yazhou District, Sanya, 572025, China
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9
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Chu L, Shrestha V, Schäfer CC, Niedens J, Meyer GW, Darnell Z, Kling T, Dürr-Mayer T, Abramov A, Frey M, Jessen H, Schaaf G, Hochholdinger F, Nowak-Król A, McSteen P, Angelovici R, Matthes MS. Association of the benzoxazinoid pathway with boron homeostasis in maize. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 197:kiae611. [PMID: 39514757 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiae611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2024] [Revised: 10/25/2024] [Accepted: 10/25/2024] [Indexed: 11/16/2024]
Abstract
Both deficiency and toxicity of the micronutrient boron lead to severe reductions in crop yield. Despite this agricultural importance, the molecular basis underlying boron homeostasis in plants remains unclear. To identify molecular players involved in boron homeostasis in maize (Zea mays L.), we measured boron levels in the Goodman-Buckler association panel and performed genome-wide association studies. These analyses identified a benzoxazinless (bx) gene, bx3, involved in the biosynthesis of benzoxazinoids, such as 2,4-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-1,4-benzoxazin-3-one (DIMBOA), which are major defense compounds in maize. Genes involved in DIMBOA biosynthesis are all located in close proximity in the genome, and benzoxazinoid biosynthesis mutants, including bx3, are all DIMBOA deficient. We determined that leaves of the bx3 mutant have a greater boron concentration than those of B73 control plants, which corresponded with enhanced leaf tip necrosis, a phenotype associated with boron toxicity. By contrast, other DIMBOA-deficient maize mutants did not show altered boron levels or the leaf tip necrosis phenotype, suggesting that boron is not associated with DIMBOA. Instead, our analyses suggest that the accumulation of boron is linked to the benzoxazinoid intermediates indolin-2-one (ION) and 3-hydroxy-ION. Therefore, our results connect boron homeostasis to the benzoxazinoid plant defense pathway through bx3 and specific intermediates, rendering the benzoxazinoid biosynthesis pathway a potential target for crop improvement under inadequate boron conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liuyang Chu
- Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation, Crop Functional Genomics, University of Bonn, Friedrich-Ebert-Allee 144, Bonn 53113, Germany
| | - Vivek Shrestha
- Division of Biological Sciences, Bond Life Sciences Center, Interdisciplinary Plant Group, and Missouri Maize Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-7310, USA
| | - Cay Christin Schäfer
- Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation, Crop Functional Genomics, University of Bonn, Friedrich-Ebert-Allee 144, Bonn 53113, Germany
| | - Jan Niedens
- Boron-Containing Functional Materials, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry and Institute for Sustainable Chemistry & Catalysis with Boron, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg 97074, Germany
| | - George W Meyer
- Division of Biological Sciences, Bond Life Sciences Center, Interdisciplinary Plant Group, and Missouri Maize Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-7310, USA
| | - Zoe Darnell
- Division of Biological Sciences, Bond Life Sciences Center, Interdisciplinary Plant Group, and Missouri Maize Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-7310, USA
| | - Tyler Kling
- Division of Biological Sciences, Bond Life Sciences Center, Interdisciplinary Plant Group, and Missouri Maize Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-7310, USA
| | - Tobias Dürr-Mayer
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Freiburg, Albertstr. 21, Freiburg im Breisgau 79104, Germany
| | - Aleksej Abramov
- Chair of Plant Breeding, Technical University of Munich, Liesel-Beckman Str. 2, Freising 85354, Germany
| | - Monika Frey
- Chair of Plant Breeding, Technical University of Munich, Liesel-Beckman Str. 2, Freising 85354, Germany
| | - Henning Jessen
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Freiburg, Albertstr. 21, Freiburg im Breisgau 79104, Germany
| | - Gabriel Schaaf
- Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation, Plant Nutrition, University of Bonn, Karl-Robert-Kreiten Straße 13, Bonn 53115, Germany
| | - Frank Hochholdinger
- Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation, Crop Functional Genomics, University of Bonn, Friedrich-Ebert-Allee 144, Bonn 53113, Germany
| | - Agnieszka Nowak-Król
- Boron-Containing Functional Materials, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry and Institute for Sustainable Chemistry & Catalysis with Boron, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg 97074, Germany
| | - Paula McSteen
- Division of Biological Sciences, Bond Life Sciences Center, Interdisciplinary Plant Group, and Missouri Maize Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-7310, USA
| | - Ruthie Angelovici
- Division of Biological Sciences, Bond Life Sciences Center, Interdisciplinary Plant Group, and Missouri Maize Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-7310, USA
| | - Michaela S Matthes
- Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation, Crop Functional Genomics, University of Bonn, Friedrich-Ebert-Allee 144, Bonn 53113, Germany
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10
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Arriola ÍA, Costa EC, de Oliveira DC, Isaias RMDS. Soil-plant-gall relationships: from gall development to ecological patterns. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2024; 99:1948-1975. [PMID: 38888220 DOI: 10.1111/brv.13106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
The adaptive nature of the galler habit has been tentatively explained by the nutrition, microenvironment, and enemy hypotheses. Soil attributes have direct relationships with these three hypotheses at the cellular and macroecological scales, but their influence has been restricted previously to effects on the nutritional status of the host plant on gall richness and abundance. Herein, we discuss the ionome patterns within gall tissues and their significance for gall development, physiology, structure, and for the nutrition of the gallers. Previous ecological and chemical quantification focused extensively on nitrogen and carbon contents, evoking the carbon-nutrient defence hypothesis as an explanation for establishing the plant-gall interaction. Different elements are involved in cell wall composition dynamics, antioxidant activity, and regulation of plant-gall water dynamics. An overview of the different soil-plant-gall relationships highlights the complexity of the nutritional requirements of gallers, which are strongly influenced by environmental soil traits. Soil and plant chemical profiles interact to determine the outcome of plant-herbivore interactions and need to be addressed by considering not only the soil features and galler nutrition but also the host plant's physiological traits. The quantitative and qualitative results for iron metabolism in gall tissues, as well as the roles of iron as an essential element in the physiology and reproduction of gallers suggest that it may represent a key nutritional resource, aligning with the nutrition hypothesis, and providing an integrative explanation for higher gall diversity in iron-rich soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ígor Abba Arriola
- Department of Botany, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, CP 486, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Elaine Cotrim Costa
- Institute of Biological Sciences/Botany, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Av. Itália Km 8, Campus Carreiros, Rio Grande, Brazil
| | - Denis Coelho de Oliveira
- Institute of Biology, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Campus Umuarama, Rua Ceará s/n, Uberlândia, Brazil
| | - Rosy Mary Dos Santos Isaias
- Department of Botany, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, CP 486, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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11
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Yasmin F, Cowie AE, Zerbe P. Understanding the chemical language mediating maize immunity and environmental adaptation. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024; 243:2093-2101. [PMID: 39049575 DOI: 10.1111/nph.20000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Diverse networks of specialized metabolites promote plant fitness by mediating beneficial and antagonistic environmental interactions. In maize (Zea mays), constitutive and dynamically formed cocktails of terpenoids, benzoxazinoids, oxylipins, and phenylpropanoids contribute to plant defense and ecological adaptation. Recent research has highlighted the multifunctional nature of many specialized metabolites, serving not only as elaborate chemical defenses that safeguard against biotic and abiotic stress but also as regulators in adaptive developmental processes and microbiome interactions. Great strides have also been made in identifying the modular pathway networks that drive maize chemical diversity. Translating this knowledge into strategies for enhancing stress resilience traits has the potential to address climate-driven yield losses in one of the world's major food, feed, and bioenergy crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farida Yasmin
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Anna E Cowie
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Philipp Zerbe
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
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12
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Thoenen L, Kreuzer M, Pestalozzi C, Florean M, Mateo P, Züst T, Wei A, Giroud C, Rouyer L, Gfeller V, Notter MD, Knoch E, Hapfelmeier S, Becker C, Schandry N, Robert CAM, Köllner TG, Bruggmann R, Erb M, Schlaeppi K. The lactonase BxdA mediates metabolic specialisation of maize root bacteria to benzoxazinoids. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6535. [PMID: 39095376 PMCID: PMC11297187 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49643-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Root exudates contain specialised metabolites that shape the plant's root microbiome. How host-specific microbes cope with these bioactive compounds, and how this ability affects root microbiomes, remains largely unknown. We investigated how maize root bacteria metabolise benzoxazinoids, the main specialised metabolites of maize. Diverse and abundant bacteria metabolised the major compound in the maize rhizosphere MBOA (6-methoxybenzoxazolin-2(3H)-one) and formed AMPO (2-amino-7-methoxy-phenoxazin-3-one). AMPO forming bacteria were enriched in the rhizosphere of benzoxazinoid-producing maize and could use MBOA as carbon source. We identified a gene cluster associated with AMPO formation in microbacteria. The first gene in this cluster, bxdA encodes a lactonase that converts MBOA to AMPO in vitro. A deletion mutant of the homologous bxdA genes in the genus Sphingobium, did not form AMPO nor was it able to use MBOA as a carbon source. BxdA was identified in different genera of maize root bacteria. Here we show that plant-specialised metabolites select for metabolisation-competent root bacteria. BxdA represents a benzoxazinoid metabolisation gene whose carriers successfully colonize the maize rhizosphere and thereby shape the plant's chemical environmental footprint.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Thoenen
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marco Kreuzer
- Interfaculty Bioinformatics Unit, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Matilde Florean
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - Pierre Mateo
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Tobias Züst
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Anlun Wei
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Caitlin Giroud
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Liza Rouyer
- LMU Biocenter, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Valentin Gfeller
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Matheus D Notter
- Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Eva Knoch
- LMU Biocenter, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Martinsried, Germany
- Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology GmbH, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Claude Becker
- LMU Biocenter, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Martinsried, Germany
- Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology GmbH, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
| | - Niklas Schandry
- LMU Biocenter, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Martinsried, Germany
- Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology GmbH, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Tobias G Köllner
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - Rémy Bruggmann
- Interfaculty Bioinformatics Unit, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Erb
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Klaus Schlaeppi
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
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13
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Bass E, Mutyambai DM, Midega CAO, Khan ZR, Kessler A. Associational Effects of Desmodium Intercropping on Maize Resistance and Secondary Metabolism. J Chem Ecol 2024; 50:299-318. [PMID: 38305931 DOI: 10.1007/s10886-024-01470-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Intercropping is drawing increasing attention as a strategy to increase crop yields and manage pest pressure, however the mechanisms of associational resistance in diversified cropping systems remain controversial. We conducted a controlled experiment to assess the impact of co-planting with silverleaf Desmodium (Desmodium uncinatum) on maize secondary metabolism and resistance to herbivory by the spotted stemborer (Chilo partellus). Maize plants were grown either in the same pot with a Desmodium plant or adjacent to it in a separate pot. Our findings indicate that co-planting with Desmodium influences maize secondary metabolism and herbivore resistance through both above and below-ground mechanisms. Maize growing in the same pot with a Desmodium neighbor was less attractive for oviposition by spotted stemborer adults. However, maize exposed only to above-ground Desmodium cues generally showed increased susceptibility to spotted stemborer herbivory (through both increased oviposition and larval consumption). VOC emissions and tissue secondary metabolite titers were also altered in maize plants exposed to Desmodium cues, with stronger effects being observed when maize and Desmodium shared the same pot. Specifically, benzoxazinoids were strongly suppressed in maize roots by direct contact with a Desmodium neighbor while headspace emissions of short-chain aldehydes and alkylbenzenes were increased. These results imply that direct root contact or soil-borne cues play an important role in mediating associational effects on plant resistance in this system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ethan Bass
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Daniel M Mutyambai
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (Icipe), Nairobi, Kenya
- Department of Life Sciences, South Eastern Kenya University, P.O Box 170-90200, Kitui, Kenya
| | - Charles A O Midega
- Poverty and Health Integrated Solutions (PHIS), Kisumu, Kenya
- Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, IPM Program, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Zeyaur R Khan
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (Icipe), Nairobi, Kenya
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Mbita, Kenya
| | - André Kessler
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
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14
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Eisenring M, Gessler A, Frei ER, Glauser G, Kammerer B, Moor M, Perret-Gentil A, Wohlgemuth T, Gossner MM. Legacy effects of premature defoliation in response to an extreme drought event modulate phytochemical profiles with subtle consequences for leaf herbivory in European beech. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024; 242:2495-2509. [PMID: 38641748 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
Extreme droughts can have long-lasting effects on forest community dynamics and species interactions. Yet, our understanding of how drought legacy modulates ecological relationships is just unfolding. We tested the hypothesis that leaf chemistry and herbivory show long-term responses to premature defoliation caused by an extreme drought event in European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.). For two consecutive years after the extreme European summer drought in 2018, we collected leaves from the upper and lower canopy of adjacently growing drought-stressed and unstressed trees. Leaf chemistry was analyzed and leaf damage by different herbivore-feeding guilds was quantified. We found that drought had lasting impacts on leaf nutrients and on specialized metabolomic profiles. However, drought did not affect the primary metabolome. Drought-related phytochemical changes affected damage of leaf-chewing herbivores whereas damage caused by other herbivore-feeding guilds was largely unaffected. Drought legacy effects on phytochemistry and herbivory were often weaker than between-year or between-canopy strata variability. Our findings suggest that a single extreme drought event bears the potential to long-lastingly affect tree-herbivore interactions. Drought legacy effects likely become more important in modulating tree-herbivore interactions since drought frequency and severity are projected to globally increase in the coming decades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Eisenring
- Forest Health & Biotic Interactions, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf, 8903, Switzerland
| | - Arthur Gessler
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, ETH Zurich, Zürich, 8092, Switzerland
- Forest Dynamics, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf, 8903, Switzerland
| | - Esther R Frei
- Forest Dynamics, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf, 8903, Switzerland
- WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Flüelastrasse 11, Davos, 7260, Switzerland
- Climate Change and Extremes in Alpine Regions Research Centre CERC, Davos, 7260, Switzerland
| | - Gaétan Glauser
- Neuchâtel Platform of Analytical Chemistry, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, 2000, Switzerland
| | - Bernd Kammerer
- Core Facility Metabolomics, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Freiburg, 79014, Germany
| | - Maurice Moor
- Forest Health & Biotic Interactions, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf, 8903, Switzerland
| | - Anouchka Perret-Gentil
- Forest Health & Biotic Interactions, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf, 8903, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Wohlgemuth
- Forest Dynamics, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf, 8903, Switzerland
| | - Martin M Gossner
- Forest Health & Biotic Interactions, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf, 8903, Switzerland
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, ETH Zurich, Zürich, 8092, Switzerland
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15
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Chen H, Chu Z, Huang J, Wen Y. Regulatory potential of secondary metabolite DIMBOA and baicalein to imazethapyr-induced toxicity in wheat seedlings. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:38265-38273. [PMID: 38801610 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-33812-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Controlling and mitigating the toxicity of herbicides to non-target plants is of significant importance in reducing ecological risks. The development of green and natural herbicide control technologies has become an urgent necessity. In this paper, how 2,4-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-2H-1,4-benzoxazine-3(4H)-one (DIMBOA) and baicalein alleviated oxidative stress induced by imazethapyr (IM) in wheat seedlings was investigated. We found that DIMBOA and baicalein enhanced the antioxidant enzyme activities in wheat seedlings exposed to IM and reduced the excessive reactive oxygen species due to IM stress by 21.3% and 23.5%, respectively. DIMBOA and baicalein also restored the iron content reduced by IM and effectively mitigated Fe2+ overload by alleviating the response of heme oxygenase 1 to IM stress. The antioxidant and iron homeostatic maintenance properties of DIMBOA and baicalein enhanced the defenses of wheat seedlings against IM stress. Our results highlight the potential implication of secondary metabolites as natural products to modulate herbicide toxicity to non-target plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Chen
- Ningbo Key Laboratory of Agricultural Germplasm Resources Mining and Environmental Regulation, College of Science and Technology, Ningbo University, Cixi, 315300, China
| | - Zheyu Chu
- Ningbo Key Laboratory of Agricultural Germplasm Resources Mining and Environmental Regulation, College of Science and Technology, Ningbo University, Cixi, 315300, China
| | - Jinye Huang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation & Ecosystem Health, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Yuezhong Wen
- MOE Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation & Ecosystem Health, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
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16
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Caggìa V, Wälchli J, Deslandes-Hérold G, Mateo P, Robert CAM, Guan H, Bigalke M, Spielvogel S, Mestrot A, Schlaeppi K, Erb M. Root-exuded specialized metabolites reduce arsenic toxicity in maize. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2314261121. [PMID: 38513094 PMCID: PMC10990099 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2314261121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
By releasing specialized metabolites, plants modify their environment. Whether and how specialized metabolites protect plants against toxic levels of trace elements is not well understood. We evaluated whether benzoxazinoids, which are released into the soil by major cereals, can confer protection against arsenic toxicity. Benzoxazinoid-producing maize plants performed better in arsenic-contaminated soils than benzoxazinoid-deficient mutants in the greenhouse and the field. Adding benzoxazinoids to the soil restored the protective effect, and the effect persisted to the next crop generation via positive plant-soil feedback. Arsenate levels in the soil and total arsenic levels in the roots were lower in the presence of benzoxazinoids. Thus, the protective effect of benzoxazinoids is likely soil-mediated and includes changes in soil arsenic speciation and root accumulation. We conclude that exuded specialized metabolites can enhance protection against toxic trace elements via soil-mediated processes and may thereby stabilize crop productivity in polluted agroecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Caggìa
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, BernCH-3013, Switzerland
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Basel4056, Switzerland
| | - Jan Wälchli
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Basel4056, Switzerland
| | | | - Pierre Mateo
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, BernCH-3013, Switzerland
| | | | - Hang Guan
- Institute of Geography, University of Bern, BernCH-3012, Switzerland
| | - Moritz Bigalke
- Institute of Geography, University of Bern, BernCH-3012, Switzerland
- Institute of Applied Geoscience, Technical University Darmstadt, DarmstadtD-64287, Germany
| | - Sandra Spielvogel
- Institute of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, Christian-Albrechts-Universität, Kiel24118, Germany
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich52425, Germany
| | - Adrien Mestrot
- Institute of Geography, University of Bern, BernCH-3012, Switzerland
| | - Klaus Schlaeppi
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, BernCH-3013, Switzerland
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Basel4056, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Erb
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, BernCH-3013, Switzerland
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17
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Gfeller V, Thoenen L, Erb M. Root-exuded benzoxazinoids can alleviate negative plant-soil feedbacks. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024; 241:2575-2588. [PMID: 38087806 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Plants can suppress the growth of other plants by modifying soil properties. These negative plant-soil feedbacks are often species-specific, suggesting that some plants possess resistance strategies. However, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here, we investigated whether benzoxazinoids, a class of dominant secondary metabolites that are exuded into the soil by maize and other cereals, allow maize plants to cope with plant-soil feedbacks. We find that three out of five tested crop species reduce maize (Zea mays L.) performance via negative plant-soil feedbacks relative to the mean across species. This effect is partially alleviated by the capacity of maize plants to produce benzoxazinoids. Soil complementation with purified benzoxazinoids restores the protective effect for benzoxazinoid-deficient mutants. Sterilization and reinoculation experiments suggest that benzoxazinoid-mediated protection acts via changes in soil biota. Substantial variation of the protective effect between experiments and soil types illustrates context dependency. In conclusion, exuded plant secondary metabolites allow plants to cope with plant-soil feedbacks. These findings expand the functional repertoire of plant secondary metabolites and reveal a mechanism by which plants can resist negative effects of soil feedbacks. The uncovered phenomenon may represent a promising avenue to stabilize plant performance in crop rotations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentin Gfeller
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, 3013, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Crop Sciences, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), 5070, Frick, Switzerland
| | - Lisa Thoenen
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, 3013, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Erb
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, 3013, Bern, Switzerland
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18
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Kliebenstein DJ. Specificity and breadth of plant specialized metabolite-microbe interactions. CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 77:102459. [PMID: 37743122 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2023.102459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Plant specialized metabolites shape plant interactions with the environment including plant-microbe interactions. While we often group compounds into generic classes, it is the precise structure of a compound that creates a specific role in plant-microbe or-pathogen interactions. Critically, the structure guides definitive targets in individual interactions, yet single compounds are not limited to singular mechanistic targets allowing them to influence interactions across broad ranges of attackers, from bacteria to fungi to animals. Further, the direction of the effect can be altered by counter evolution within the interacting organism leading to single compounds being both beneficial and detrimental. Thus, the benefit of a single compound to a host needs to be assessed by measuring the net benefit across all interactions while in each specific interaction. Factoring this complexity for single compounds in plant-microbe interactions with the massive expansion in our identification of specialized metabolite pathways means that we need systematic studies to classify the full breadth of activities. Only with this full biological knowledge we can develop mechanistic, ecological, and evolutionary models to understand how plant specialized metabolites fully influence plant-microbe and plant-biotic interactions more broadly.
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19
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Gossner MM, Perret-Gentil A, Britt E, Queloz V, Glauser G, Ladd T, Roe AD, Cleary M, Liziniewicz M, Nielsen LR, Ghosh SK, Bonello P, Eisenring M. A glimmer of hope - ash genotypes with increased resistance to ash dieback pathogen show cross-resistance to emerald ash borer. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2023; 240:1219-1232. [PMID: 37345294 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
Plants rely on cross-resistance traits to defend against multiple, phylogenetically distinct enemies. These traits are often the result of long co-evolutionary histories. Biological invasions can force naïve plants to cope with novel, coincident pests, and pathogens. For example, European ash (Fraxinus excelsior) is substantially threatened by the emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis, a wood-boring beetle, and the ash dieback (ADB) pathogen, Hymenoscyphus fraxineus. Yet, plant cross-resistance traits against novel enemies are poorly explored and it is unknown whether naïve ash trees can defend against novel enemy complexes via cross-resistance mechanisms. To gain mechanistic insights, we quantified EAB performance on grafted replicates of ash genotypes varying in ADB resistance and characterized ash phloem chemistry with targeted and untargeted metabolomics. Emerald ash borer performed better on ADB-susceptible than on ADB-resistant genotypes. Moreover, changes in EAB performance aligned with differences in phloem chemical profiles between ADB-susceptible and ADB-resistant genotypes. We show that intraspecific variation in phloem chemistry in European ash can confer increased cross-resistance to invasive antagonists from different taxonomic kingdoms. Our study suggests that promotion of ADB-resistant ash genotypes may simultaneously help to control the ADB disease and reduce EAB-caused ash losses, which may be critical for the long-term stability of this keystone tree species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin M Gossner
- Forest Health & Biotic Interactions, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), 8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
- Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, ETH Zürich, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Anouchka Perret-Gentil
- Forest Health & Biotic Interactions, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), 8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Elisabeth Britt
- Forest Health & Biotic Interactions, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), 8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Valentin Queloz
- Forest Health & Biotic Interactions, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), 8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Gaétan Glauser
- Neuchâtel Platform of Analytical Chemistry, University of Neuchâtel, 2000, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Tim Ladd
- Great Lakes Forestry Centre, Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada, ON P6A 2E5, Sault Ste. Marie, ON, Canada
| | - Amanda D Roe
- Great Lakes Forestry Centre, Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada, ON P6A 2E5, Sault Ste. Marie, ON, Canada
| | - Michelle Cleary
- Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-234 22, Alnarp, Sweden
| | | | - Lene R Nielsen
- Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, 1958, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Soumya K Ghosh
- Department of Plant Pathology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, 43210, OH, USA
| | - Pierluigi Bonello
- Department of Plant Pathology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, 43210, OH, USA
| | - Michael Eisenring
- Forest Health & Biotic Interactions, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), 8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
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20
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Huang J, Li J, Chen H, Shen C, Wen Y. Phytotoxicity alleviation of imazethapyr to non-target plant wheat: active regulation between auxin and DIMBOA. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:116004-116017. [PMID: 37897577 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-30608-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023]
Abstract
Effectively controlling target organisms while reducing the adverse effects of pesticides on non-target organisms is a crucial scientific inquiry and challenge in pesticide ecotoxicology research. Here, we studied the alleviation of herbicide (R)-imazethapyr [(R)-IM] to non-target plant wheat by active regulation between auxin and secondary metabolite 2,4-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-2H-1,4-benzoxazine-3(4H)-one (DIMBOA). We found (R)-IM reduced 32.4% auxin content in wheat leaves and induced 40.7% DIMBOA accumulation compared to the control group, which effortlessly disrupted the balance between wheat growth and defense. Transcriptomic results indicated that restoration of the auxin level in plants promoted the up-regulation of growth-related genes and the accumulation of DIMBOA up-regulated the expression of defense-related genes. Auxin and DIMBOA alleviated herbicide stress primarily through effects in the two directions of wheat growth and defense, respectively. Additionally, as a common precursor of auxin and DIMBOA, indole adopted a combined growth and defense strategy in response to (R)-IM toxicity, i.e., restoring growth development and enhancing the defense system. Future regulation of auxin and DIMBOA levels in plants may be possible through appropriate methods, thus regulating the plant growth-defense balance under herbicide stress. Our insight into the interference mechanism of herbicides to the plant growth-defense system will facilitate the design of improved strategies for herbicide detoxification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinye Huang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation & Ecosystem Health, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Jun Li
- MOE Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation & Ecosystem Health, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Hui Chen
- Ningbo Key Laboratory of Agricultural Germplasm Resources Mining and Environmental Regulation, College of Science and Technology, Ningbo University, Cixi, 315300, China
| | - Chensi Shen
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China
| | - Yuezhong Wen
- MOE Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation & Ecosystem Health, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
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21
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Thoenen L, Giroud C, Kreuzer M, Waelchli J, Gfeller V, Deslandes-Hérold G, Mateo P, Robert CAM, Ahrens CH, Rubio-Somoza I, Bruggmann R, Erb M, Schlaeppi K. Bacterial tolerance to host-exuded specialized metabolites structures the maize root microbiome. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2310134120. [PMID: 37878725 PMCID: PMC10622871 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2310134120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Plants exude specialized metabolites from their roots, and these compounds are known to structure the root microbiome. However, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. We established a representative collection of maize root bacteria and tested their tolerance against benzoxazinoids (BXs), the dominant specialized and bioactive metabolites in the root exudates of maize plants. In vitro experiments revealed that BXs inhibited bacterial growth in a strain- and compound-dependent manner. Tolerance against these selective antimicrobial compounds depended on bacterial cell wall structure. Further, we found that native root bacteria isolated from maize tolerated the BXs better compared to nonhost Arabidopsis bacteria. This finding suggests the adaptation of the root bacteria to the specialized metabolites of their host plant. Bacterial tolerance to 6-methoxy-benzoxazolin-2-one (MBOA), the most abundant and selective antimicrobial metabolite in the maize rhizosphere, correlated significantly with the abundance of these bacteria on BX-exuding maize roots. Thus, strain-dependent tolerance to BXs largely explained the abundance pattern of bacteria on maize roots. Abundant bacteria generally tolerated MBOA, while low abundant root microbiome members were sensitive to this compound. Our findings reveal that tolerance to plant specialized metabolites is an important competence determinant for root colonization. We propose that bacterial tolerance to root-derived antimicrobial compounds is an underlying mechanism determining the structure of host-specific microbial communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Thoenen
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Bern3013, Switzerland
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Basel4056, Switzerland
| | - Caitlin Giroud
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Basel4056, Switzerland
| | - Marco Kreuzer
- Interfaculty Bioinformatics Unit, University of Bern, Bern3012, Switzerland
| | - Jan Waelchli
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Basel4056, Switzerland
| | - Valentin Gfeller
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Bern3013, Switzerland
| | | | - Pierre Mateo
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Bern3013, Switzerland
| | | | - Christian H. Ahrens
- Method Development and Analytics, Group Molecular Ecology, Agroscope, Zürich8046, Switzerland
| | - Ignacio Rubio-Somoza
- Molecular Reprogramming and Evolution Lab, Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics, Barcelona08193, Spain
| | - Rémy Bruggmann
- Interfaculty Bioinformatics Unit, University of Bern, Bern3012, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Erb
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Bern3013, Switzerland
| | - Klaus Schlaeppi
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Bern3013, Switzerland
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Basel4056, Switzerland
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22
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Huynh MP, Geisert RW, Ludwick DC, Pekarcik AJ, Hibbard BE. Host search behaviors of specialist and generalist root feeding herbivores (Diabrotica spp.) on host and non-host plants. Sci Rep 2023; 13:17583. [PMID: 37845376 PMCID: PMC10579251 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-44760-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Western, northern, Mexican, and southern corn rootworms (WCR, NCR, MCR, and SCR) are serious corn pests. We evaluated host search behavior of these pests on six plant species using a video tracking system. After a 5-min exposure to plant roots, behavioral parameters were automatically recorded and used to quantify the search behavior. The search behavior was not observed for sorghum since no neonates survived after contacting sorghum roots. After exposures to corn roots, all neonates exhibited the localized search behaviors (i.e., shortening total distance traveled, lowering movement speed, increasing turn angle, moving farther from origin) which are used to stay in and search within root systems. When larvae contacted roots of wheat, barley, oats, soybean, or controls, they expanded the search area by extending the travel path, increasing velocity, and reducing turn angles and total distance moved. The intensity of the search expansion is highly associated with the host preferences known for the four rootworm species and subspecies. Neonates of each corn rootworm exhibited distinct search behaviors. In fact, NCR larvae had the highest speed, the greatest travel path, and the lowest turn angle, whereas MCR larvae had the highest turn angle and moved faster than WCR and SCR larvae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Man P Huynh
- Division of Plant Science and Technology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.
- Department of Plant Protection, Can Tho University, Can Tho, Vietnam.
| | - Ryan W Geisert
- Division of Plant Science and Technology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Dalton C Ludwick
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M, AgriLife Extension Service, Corpus Christi, TX, USA
| | - Adrian J Pekarcik
- North Central Agricultural Research Laboratory, USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Brookings, SD, USA
| | - Bruce E Hibbard
- Plant Genetics Research Unit, USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Columbia, MO, USA.
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23
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Malhotra B, Kumar P, Bisht NC. Defense versus growth trade-offs: Insights from glucosinolates and their catabolites. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2023; 46:2964-2984. [PMID: 36207995 DOI: 10.1111/pce.14462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Specialized metabolites are a structurally diverse group of naturally occurring compounds that facilitate plant-environment interactions. Their synthesis and maintenance in plants is overall a resource-demanding process that occurs at the expense of growth and reproduction and typically incurs several costs. Evidence emerging on different specialized compounds suggests that they serve multiple auxiliary functions to influence and moderate primary metabolism in plants. These new functionalities enable them to mediate trade-offs from defenses to growth and also to offset their production and maintenance costs in plants. Recent research on glucosinolates (GSLs), which are specialized metabolites of Brassicales, demonstrates their emerging multifunctionalities to fine-tune plant growth and development under variable environments. Herein, we present findings from the septennium on individual GSLs and their catabolites (GHPs) per se, that work as mobile signals within plants to mediate precise regulations of their primary physiological functions. Both GSLs and GHPs calibrate growth-defense trade-off interactions either synergistically or directly when they function as storage compounds, abiotic stress alleviators, and one-to-one regulators of growth pathways in plants. We finally summarize the overall lessons learned from GSLs and GHPs as a model and raise the most pressing questions to address the molecular-genetic intricacies of specialized metabolite-based trade-offs in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhanu Malhotra
- National Institute of Plant Genome Research, New Delhi, India
| | - Pawan Kumar
- National Institute of Plant Genome Research, New Delhi, India
| | - Naveen C Bisht
- National Institute of Plant Genome Research, New Delhi, India
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24
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Wang L, Jäggi S, Cofer TM, Waterman JM, Walthert M, Glauser G, Erb M. Immature leaves are the dominant volatile-sensing organs of maize. Curr Biol 2023; 33:3679-3689.e3. [PMID: 37597519 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.07.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/21/2023]
Abstract
Plants perceive herbivory-induced volatiles and respond to them by upregulating their defenses. To date, the organs responsible for volatile perception remain poorly described. Here, we show that responsiveness to the herbivory-induced green leaf volatile (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate (HAC) in terms of volatile emission, transcriptional regulation, and jasmonate defense hormone activation is largely constrained to younger maize leaves. Older leaves are much less sensitive to HAC. In a given leaf, responsiveness to HAC is high at immature developmental stages and drops off rapidly during maturation. Responsiveness to the non-volatile elicitor ZmPep3 shows an opposite pattern, demonstrating that this form of hyposmia (i.e., decreased sense of smell) is not due to a general defect in jasmonate defense signaling in mature leaves. Neither stomatal conductance nor leaf cuticle composition explains the unresponsiveness of older leaves to HAC, suggesting perception mechanisms upstream of jasmonate signaling as driving factors. Finally, we show that hyposmia in older leaves is not restricted to HAC and extends to the full blend of herbivory-induced volatiles. In conclusion, our work identifies immature maize leaves as dominant stress volatile-sensing organs. The tight spatiotemporal control of volatile perception may facilitate within plant defense signaling to protect young leaves and may allow plants with complex architectures to explore the dynamic odor landscapes at the outer periphery of their shoots.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Wang
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Altenbergrain 21, 3013 Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Simon Jäggi
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Altenbergrain 21, 3013 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Tristan M Cofer
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Altenbergrain 21, 3013 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jamie M Waterman
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Altenbergrain 21, 3013 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Mario Walthert
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Altenbergrain 21, 3013 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Gaétan Glauser
- Neuchâtel Platform of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Neuchâtel, Avenue de Bellevaux 51, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Erb
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Altenbergrain 21, 3013 Bern, Switzerland.
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25
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Yactayo-Chang JP, Block AK. The impact of climate change on maize chemical defenses. Biochem J 2023; 480:1285-1298. [PMID: 37622733 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20220444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Climate change is increasingly affecting agriculture, both at the levels of crops themselves, and by altering the distribution and damage caused by insect or microbial pests. As global food security depends on the reliable production of major crops such as maize (Zea mays), it is vital that appropriate steps are taken to mitigate these negative impacts. To do this a clear understanding of what the impacts are and how they occur is needed. This review focuses on the impact of climate change on the production and effectiveness of maize chemical defenses, including volatile organic compounds, terpenoid phytoalexins, benzoxazinoids, phenolics, and flavonoids. Drought, flooding, heat stress, and elevated concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide, all impact the production of maize chemical defenses, in a compound and tissue-specific manner. Furthermore, changes in stomatal conductance and altered soil conditions caused by climate change can impact environmental dispersal and effectiveness certain chemicals. This can alter both defensive barrier formation and multitrophic interactions. The production of defense chemicals is controlled by stress signaling networks. The use of similar networks to co-ordinate the response to abiotic and biotic stress can lead to complex integration of these networks in response to the combinatorial stresses that are likely to occur in a changing climate. The impact of multiple stressors on maize chemical defenses can therefore be different from the sum of the responses to individual stressors and challenging to predict. Much work remains to effectively leverage these protective chemicals in climate-resilient maize.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica P Yactayo-Chang
- United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Chemistry Research Unit, Gainesville, FL, U.S.A
| | - Anna K Block
- United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Chemistry Research Unit, Gainesville, FL, U.S.A
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26
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Gfeller V, Waelchli J, Pfister S, Deslandes-Hérold G, Mascher F, Glauser G, Aeby Y, Mestrot A, Robert CAM, Schlaeppi K, Erb M. Plant secondary metabolite-dependent plant-soil feedbacks can improve crop yield in the field. eLife 2023; 12:e84988. [PMID: 37526647 PMCID: PMC10393292 DOI: 10.7554/elife.84988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Plant secondary metabolites that are released into the rhizosphere alter biotic and abiotic soil properties, which in turn affect the performance of other plants. How this type of plant-soil feedback affects agricultural productivity and food quality in the field in the context of crop rotations is unknown. Here, we assessed the performance, yield and food quality of three winter wheat varieties growing in field plots whose soils had been conditioned by either wild type or benzoxazinoid-deficient bx1 maize mutant plants. Following maize cultivation, we detected benzoxazinoid-dependent chemical and microbial fingerprints in the soil. The benzoxazinoid fingerprint was still visible during wheat growth, but the microbial fingerprint was no longer detected. Wheat emergence, tillering, growth, and biomass increased in wild type conditioned soils compared to bx1 mutant conditioned soils. Weed cover was similar between soil conditioning treatments, but insect herbivore abundance decreased in benzoxazinoid-conditioned soils. Wheat yield was increased by over 4% without a reduction in grain quality in benzoxazinoid-conditioned soils. This improvement was directly associated with increased germination and tillering. Taken together, our experiments provide evidence that soil conditioning by plant secondary metabolite producing plants can increase yield via plant-soil feedbacks under agronomically realistic conditions. If this phenomenon holds true across different soils and environments, optimizing root exudation chemistry could be a powerful, genetically tractable strategy to enhance crop yields without additional inputs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentin Gfeller
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jan Waelchli
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Fabio Mascher
- Department of Plant Breeding, Agroscope, Nyon, Switzerland
| | - Gaetan Glauser
- Platform of Analytical Chemistry, Université de Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Yvo Aeby
- Research contracts animals group, Agroscope, Posieux, Switzerland
| | - Adrien Mestrot
- Institute of Geography, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Klaus Schlaeppi
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Erb
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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27
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Khan S, Lang M. A Comprehensive Review on the Roles of Metals Mediating Insect-Microbial Pathogen Interactions. Metabolites 2023; 13:839. [PMID: 37512546 PMCID: PMC10384549 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13070839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Insects and microbial pathogens are ubiquitous and play significant roles in various biological processes, while microbial pathogens are microscopic organisms that can cause diseases in multiple hosts. Insects and microbial pathogens engage in diverse interactions, leveraging each other's presence. Metals are crucial in shaping these interactions between insects and microbial pathogens. However, metals such as Fe, Cu, Zn, Co, Mo, and Ni are integral to various physiological processes in insects, including immune function and resistance against pathogens. Insects have evolved multiple mechanisms to take up, transport, and regulate metal concentrations to fight against pathogenic microbes and act as a vector to transport microbial pathogens to plants and cause various plant diseases. Hence, it is paramount to inhibit insect-microbe interaction to control pathogen transfer from one plant to another or carry pathogens from other sources. This review aims to succinate the role of metals in the interactions between insects and microbial pathogens. It summarizes the significance of metals in the physiology, immune response, and competition for metals between insects, microbial pathogens, and plants. The scope of this review covers these imperative metals and their acquisition, storage, and regulation mechanisms in insect and microbial pathogens. The paper will discuss various scientific studies and sources, including molecular and biochemical studies and genetic and genomic analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subhanullah Khan
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Minglin Lang
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- College of Life Science, Agricultural University of Hebei, Baoding 071000, China
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28
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Luo M, Li B, Jander G, Zhou S. Non-volatile metabolites mediate plant interactions with insect herbivores. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023; 114:1164-1177. [PMID: 36891808 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.16180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Non-volatile metabolites constitute the bulk of plant biomass. From the perspective of plant-insect interactions, these structurally diverse compounds include nutritious core metabolites and defensive specialized metabolites. In this review, we synthesize the current literature on multiple scales of plant-insect interactions mediated by non-volatile metabolites. At the molecular level, functional genetics studies have revealed a large collection of receptors targeting plant non-volatile metabolites in model insect species and agricultural pests. By contrast, examples of plant receptors of insect-derived molecules remain sparse. For insect herbivores, plant non-volatile metabolites function beyond the dichotomy of core metabolites, classed as nutrients, and specialized metabolites, classed as defensive compounds. Insect feeding tends to elicit evolutionarily conserved changes in plant specialized metabolism, whereas its effect on plant core metabolism varies widely based the interacting species. Finally, several recent studies have demonstrated that non-volatile metabolites can mediate tripartite communication on the community scale, facilitated by physical connections established through direct root-to-root communication, parasitic plants, arbuscular mycorrhizae and the rhizosphere microbiome. Recent advances in both plant and insect molecular biology will facilitate further research on the role of non-volatile metabolites in mediating plant-insect interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Luo
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, 518120, China
| | - Bin Li
- Key Laboratory of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Department of Entomology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100091, China
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Georg Jander
- Boyce Thompson Institute, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Shaoqun Zhou
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, 518120, China
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29
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Yang C, Bai Y, Halitschke R, Gase K, Baldwin G, Baldwin IT. Exploring the metabolic basis of growth/defense trade-offs in complex environments with Nicotiana attenuata plants cosilenced in NaMYC2a/b expression. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2023; 238:349-366. [PMID: 36636784 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
In response to challenges from herbivores and competitors, plants use fitness-limiting resources to produce (auto)toxic defenses. Jasmonate signaling, mediated by MYC2 transcription factors (TF), is thought to reconfigure metabolism to minimize these formal costs of defense and optimize fitness in complex environments. To study the context-dependence of this metabolic reconfiguration, we cosilenced NaMYC2a/b by RNAi in Nicotiana attenuata and phenotyped plants in the field and increasingly realistic glasshouse setups with competitors and mobile herbivores. NaMYC2a/b had normal phytohormonal responses, and higher growth and fitness in herbivore-reduced environments, but were devastated in high herbivore-load environments in the field due to diminished accumulations of specialized metabolites. In setups with competitors and mobile herbivores, irMYC2a/b plants had lower fitness than empty vector (EV) in single-genotype setups but increased fitness in mixed-genotype setups. Correlational analyses of metabolic, resistance, and growth traits revealed the expected defense/growth associations for most sectors of primary and specialized metabolism. Notable exceptions were some HGL-DTGs and phenolamides that differed between single-genotype and mixed-genotype setups, consistent with expectations of a blurred functional trichotomy of metabolites. MYC2 TFs mediate the reconfiguration of primary and specialized metabolic sectors to allow plants to optimize their fitness in complex environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caiqiong Yang
- Department of Molecular Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Straße 8, Jena, D-07745, Germany
| | - Yuechen Bai
- Department of Molecular Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Straße 8, Jena, D-07745, Germany
| | - Rayko Halitschke
- Department of Molecular Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Straße 8, Jena, D-07745, Germany
| | - Klaus Gase
- Department of Molecular Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Straße 8, Jena, D-07745, Germany
| | - Gundega Baldwin
- Department of Molecular Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Straße 8, Jena, D-07745, Germany
| | - Ian T Baldwin
- Department of Molecular Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Straße 8, Jena, D-07745, Germany
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30
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Gross JJ, Mateo P, Ramhold D, Kramer E, Erb M, Robert CAM. Turnover of Benzoxazinoids during the Aerobic Deterioration of Maize Silage ( Zea mays). JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2023; 71:2370-2376. [PMID: 36692976 PMCID: PMC9912334 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.2c06699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
While plant-specialized metabolites can affect mammal health, their fate during the aerobic deterioration of crop silage remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the metabolization of benzoxazinoids (BXs) in silages of two maize genotypes (W22 wild type and bx1 mutant line) during aerobic deterioration. In W22 plants, concentrations of the aglucone BXs DIMBOA and HMBOA in silage decreased over time upon air exposure, while concentrations of MBOA and BOA increased. Mutant plants had low levels of BXs, which did not significantly vary over time. Aerobic stability was BX-dependent, as pH and counts of yeasts and molds were higher in W22 compared to that in bx1 silage. The nutrient composition was not affected by BXs. These preliminary results may be used to estimate the amounts of BXs provided to farm animals via silage feeding. However, further research is warranted under different harvest and storage conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josef J. Gross
- Veterinary
Physiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University
of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Pierre Mateo
- Faculty
of Science, Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, 3013 Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Ewald Kramer
- ISF
GmbH, An der Mühlenau
4, 25421 Pinneberg, Germany
| | - Matthias Erb
- Faculty
of Science, Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, 3013 Bern, Switzerland
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31
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Zhou S, Ma Y, Shang Y, Qi X, Huang S, Li J. Functional diversity and metabolic engineering of plant-specialized metabolites. LIFE METABOLISM 2022; 1:109-121. [PMID: 39872355 PMCID: PMC11749740 DOI: 10.1093/lifemeta/loac019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/30/2025]
Abstract
Plants are talented biochemists that produce a broad diversity of small molecules. These so-called specialized metabolites (SMs) play critical roles in the adaptive evolution of plants to defend against biotic and abiotic stresses, attract pollinators, and modulate soil microbiota for their own benefits. Many plant SMs have been used as nutrition and flavor compounds in our daily food, as well as drugs for treatment of human diseases. Current multi-omics tools have significantly accelerated the process of biosynthetic pathway elucidation in plants through correlation analyses, genetic mapping, and de novo biosynthetic gene cluster predictions. Understanding the biosynthesis of plant SMs has enabled reconstitution of naturally occurring specialized metabolic pathways in microbial hosts, providing a sustainable supply of these high-value molecules. In this review, we illustrate the general functions of several typical plant SMs in natural ecosystems and for human societies. We then provide an overview of current methods elucidating the biosynthetic pathways of plant SMs, and synthetic biology strategies that optimize the efficiency of heterologous biosynthetic pathways in microbial hosts. Moving forward, dissection of the functions and application of plant SMs by using current multidiscipline approaches would be greatly benefit to the scientific community and human societies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaoqun Zhou
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518120, China
| | - Yongshuo Ma
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518120, China
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Yi Shang
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Potato Biology, The CAAS-YNNU-YINMORE Joint Academy of Potato Sciences, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, Yunan 650500, China
| | - Xiaoquan Qi
- Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
| | - Sanwen Huang
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518120, China
| | - Jiayang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, National Center for Plant Gene Research, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Innovation Academy for Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
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32
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Jeckel AM, Beran F, Züst T, Younkin G, Petschenka G, Pokharel P, Dreisbach D, Ganal-Vonarburg SC, Robert CAM. Metabolization and sequestration of plant specialized metabolites in insect herbivores: Current and emerging approaches. Front Physiol 2022; 13:1001032. [PMID: 36237530 PMCID: PMC9552321 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.1001032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Herbivorous insects encounter diverse plant specialized metabolites (PSMs) in their diet, that have deterrent, anti-nutritional, or toxic properties. Understanding how they cope with PSMs is crucial to understand their biology, population dynamics, and evolution. This review summarizes current and emerging cutting-edge methods that can be used to characterize the metabolic fate of PSMs, from ingestion to excretion or sequestration. It further emphasizes a workflow that enables not only to study PSM metabolism at different scales, but also to tackle and validate the genetic and biochemical mechanisms involved in PSM resistance by herbivores. This review thus aims at facilitating research on PSM-mediated plant-herbivore interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Moriguchi Jeckel
- Laboratory of Chemical Ecology, Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Franziska Beran
- Department of Insect Symbiosis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - Tobias Züst
- Department of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Gordon Younkin
- Boyce Thompson Institute, Ithaca, NY, United States
- Plant Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Georg Petschenka
- Department of Applied Entomology, Institute of Phytomedicine, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Prayan Pokharel
- Department of Applied Entomology, Institute of Phytomedicine, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Domenic Dreisbach
- Institute for Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Stephanie Christine Ganal-Vonarburg
- Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department for BioMedical Research, Visceral Surgery and Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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33
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Stahl E. New insights into the transcriptional regulation of benzoxazinoid biosynthesis in wheat. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2022; 73:5358-5360. [PMID: 36095661 PMCID: PMC9467650 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erac244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
This article comments on: Batyrshina ZS, Shavit R, Yaakov B, Bocobza S, Tzin V. 2022. The transcription factor gene TaMYB31 regulates the benzoxazinoid biosynthetic pathway in wheat. Journal of Experimental Botany73, 5634-5649. Benzoxazinoids (BXDs) are abundant indole-derived specialized metabolites in several monocot crop species, such as wheat, maize, and rye. They function in plant immunity against herbivorous arthropods and fungal pathogens, but also as iron chelators, in metal tolerance, and as allelochemicals. Although BXD biosynthetic pathways have been studied extensively and are well described, information about the transcriptional regulation of BXD biosynthesis is scarce. In the current issue of JXB, Batyrshina et al. (2022) identified the transcription factor gene TaMYB31 in the tetraploid wheat Triticum turgidum and verified its function as a component of BXD metabolism in the hexaploid wheat Triticum aestivum, where it regulates constitutive and stress-inducible BXD biosynthesis.
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34
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Ou T, Gao H, Jiang K, Yu J, Zhao R, Liu X, Zhou Z, Xiang Z, Xie J. Endophytic Klebsiella aerogenes HGG15 stimulates mulberry growth in hydro-fluctuation belt and the potential mechanisms as revealed by microbiome and metabolomics. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:978550. [PMID: 36033884 PMCID: PMC9417544 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.978550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Growth promotion and stress tolerance induced by endophytes have been observed in various plants, but their effects on mulberry regularly suffering flood in the hydro-fluctuation belt are less understood. In the present study, endophytic Klebsiella aerogenes HGG15 was screened out from 28 plant growth promotion (PGP) bacteria as having superior PGP traits in vitro and in planta as well as biosafety for silkworms. K. aerogenes HGG15 could actively colonize into roots of mulberry and subsequently transferred to stems and leaves. The 16S ribosomal RNA (V3–V4 variable regions) amplicon sequencing revealed that exogenous application of K. aerogenes HGG15 altered the bacterial community structures of mulberry roots and stems. Moreover, the genus of Klebsiella was particularly enriched in inoculated mulberry roots and was positively correlated with mulberry development and soil potassium content. Untargeted metabolic profiles uncovered 201 differentially abundant metabolites (DEMs) between inoculated and control mulberry, with lipids and organo-heterocyclic compounds being particularly abundant DEMs. In addition, a high abundance of abiotic stress response factors and promotion growth stimulators such as glycerolipid, sphingolipid, indole, pyridine, and coumarin were observed in inoculated mulberry. Collectively, the knowledge gained from this study sheds light on potential strategies to enhance mulberry growth in hydro-fluctuation belt, and microbiome and metabolite analyses provide new insights into the growth promotion mechanisms used by plant-associated bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Ou
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding in Ministry of Agriculture, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Science, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Haiying Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding in Ministry of Agriculture, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Science, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Kun Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding in Ministry of Agriculture, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Science, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jing Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding in Ministry of Agriculture, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Science, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ruolin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding in Ministry of Agriculture, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Science, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaojiao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding in Ministry of Agriculture, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Science, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zeyang Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding in Ministry of Agriculture, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Science, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- College of Life Science, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhonghuai Xiang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding in Ministry of Agriculture, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Science, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jie Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding in Ministry of Agriculture, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Science, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- *Correspondence: Jie Xie,
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Wang P, Lopes LD, Lopez-Guerrero MG, van Dijk K, Alvarez S, Riethoven JJ, Schachtman DP. Natural variation in root exudation of GABA and DIMBOA impacts the maize root endosphere and rhizosphere microbiomes. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2022; 73:5052-5066. [PMID: 35552399 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erac202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Root exudates are important for shaping root-associated microbiomes. However, studies on a wider range of metabolites in exudates are required for a comprehensive understanding about their influence on microbial communities. We identified maize inbred lines that differ in exudate concentrations of 2,4-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-1,4-benzoxazin-3-one (DIMBOA) and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) using a semi-hydroponic system. These lines were grown in the field to determine the changes in microbial diversity and gene expression due to varying concentrations of DIMBOA and GABA in exudates using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and metatranscriptomics. Results showed individual and interaction effects of DIMBOA and GABA on the rhizosphere and root endosphere β-diversity, most strongly at the V10 growth stage. The main bacterial families affected by both compounds were Ktedonobacteraceae and Xanthomonadaceae. Higher concentrations of DIMBOA in exudates affected the rhizosphere metatranscriptome, enriching for metabolic pathways associated with plant disease. This study validated the use of natural variation within plant species as a powerful approach for understanding the role of root exudates on microbiome selection. We also showed that a semi-hydroponic system can be used to identify maize genotypes that differ in GABA and DIMBOA exudate concentrations under field conditions. The impact of GABA exudation on root-associated microbiomes is shown for the first time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Wang
- Center for Plant Science Innovation, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA and Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
- Nebraska Center for Biotechnology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Lucas Dantas Lopes
- Center for Plant Science Innovation, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA and Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
- Nebraska Center for Biotechnology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | | | - Karin van Dijk
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Sophie Alvarez
- Nebraska Center for Biotechnology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
- Proteomics and Metabolomics Facility, Nebraska Center for Biotechnology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Jean-Jack Riethoven
- Nebraska Center for Biotechnology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
- Bioinformatics Core Facility, Nebraska Center for Biotechnology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Daniel P Schachtman
- Center for Plant Science Innovation, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA and Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
- Nebraska Center for Biotechnology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
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36
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Li J, Baldwin IT, Li D. Harmonizing biosynthesis with post-ingestive modifications to understand the ecological functions of plant natural products. Nat Prod Rep 2022; 39:1383-1392. [PMID: 35575224 PMCID: PMC9298679 DOI: 10.1039/d2np00019a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Covering: up to 2022The recent dramatic advances in our understanding of the biosynthetic pathways that produce diverse bouquets of plant-derived natural products have far surpassed our understanding of the function of these compounds for plants: how they influence a plant's Darwinian fitness in nature. Our understanding of their mechanisms, the life-processes targeted by these compounds, is similarly poorly resolved. Many plant specialized metabolites (PSMs) are further modified after ingestion by herbivores, and these post-ingestive modifications are frequently essential for PSM function. Here we summarize the biosynthesis and functional mechanisms of 17-hydroxygeranyllinalool diterpene glycosides in the ecological model plant Nicotiana attenuata, and summarize the post-ingestive modifications known from other two-component PSMs. We propose that parallel comparisons of plant natural product biosynthetic pathways and insect post-ingestive metabolism of the same plant tissues ("frassomics") will facilitate the often-elusive identification of the molecular targets of these effective chemical defenses, contribute to elucidations of post-ingestive metabolite interactions in insect guts, and predicate the rapid evolutions of resistance against insecticides inspired by PSMs. We highlight the value of conducting these parallel investigations at the level of the entire metabolome so as to include the multiple interacting pathways in both natural product biosynthesis as well as their post-ingestive processing. We introduce the concept of frass metabolite QTL (fmQTL) analysis that integrates powerful forward genetic approaches with frassomics, and suggest that insect-guided high-throughput forward- and reverse-genetics approaches in natural habitats will advance our understanding of PSM biosynthesis and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiancai Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
| | - Ian T Baldwin
- Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Department of Molecular Ecology, 07745 Jena, Germany.
| | - Dapeng Li
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, CAS-JIC Center of Excellence for Plant and Microbial Sciences (CEPAMS), Shanghai, China.
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Terletskaya NV, Korbozova NK, Grazhdannikov AE, Seitimova GA, Meduntseva ND, Kudrina NO. Accumulation of Secondary Metabolites of Rhodiola semenovii Boriss. In Situ in the Dynamics of Growth and Development. Metabolites 2022; 12:metabo12070622. [PMID: 35888746 PMCID: PMC9323023 DOI: 10.3390/metabo12070622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhodiola semenovii Boriss. (Regel and Herder) might be a promising replacement for the well-known but endangered Rhodiola rosea L. In this research, the metabolic profile of R. semenovii, including drug-active and stress-resistant components, was studied in the context of source–sink interactions in situ in the dynamics of growth and development. Gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection and liquid chromatography methods were used. The data obtained allow for assumptions to be made about which secondary metabolites determine the level of stress resistance in R. semenovii at different stages of ontogeny in situ. For the first time, an expansion in the content of salidroside in the above-ground organs, with its maximum value during the period of seed maturation, and a significant decrease in its content in the root were revealed in the dynamics of vegetation. These results allow us to recommend collecting the ground component of R. semenovii for pharmaceutical purposes throughout the seed development stage without damaging the root system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina V. Terletskaya
- Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology and Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Al-Farabi Avenue 71, 050040 Almaty, Kazakhstan; (N.K.K.); (G.A.S.); (N.D.M.)
- Institute of Genetic and Physiology, Al-Farabi Avenue 93, 050040 Almaty, Kazakhstan
- Correspondence: (N.V.T.); (N.O.K.); Tel.: +7-(777)-299-3335 (N.V.T.); +7-(705)-181-1440 (N.O.K.)
| | - Nazym K. Korbozova
- Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology and Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Al-Farabi Avenue 71, 050040 Almaty, Kazakhstan; (N.K.K.); (G.A.S.); (N.D.M.)
- Institute of Genetic and Physiology, Al-Farabi Avenue 93, 050040 Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Alexander E. Grazhdannikov
- N.N. Vorozhtsov Novosibirsk Institute of Organic Chemistry, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Science, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia;
| | - Gulnaz A. Seitimova
- Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology and Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Al-Farabi Avenue 71, 050040 Almaty, Kazakhstan; (N.K.K.); (G.A.S.); (N.D.M.)
- Institute of Genetic and Physiology, Al-Farabi Avenue 93, 050040 Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Nataliya D. Meduntseva
- Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology and Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Al-Farabi Avenue 71, 050040 Almaty, Kazakhstan; (N.K.K.); (G.A.S.); (N.D.M.)
| | - Nataliya O. Kudrina
- Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology and Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Al-Farabi Avenue 71, 050040 Almaty, Kazakhstan; (N.K.K.); (G.A.S.); (N.D.M.)
- Institute of Genetic and Physiology, Al-Farabi Avenue 93, 050040 Almaty, Kazakhstan
- Correspondence: (N.V.T.); (N.O.K.); Tel.: +7-(777)-299-3335 (N.V.T.); +7-(705)-181-1440 (N.O.K.)
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Oburger E, Schmidt H, Staudinger C. Harnessing belowground processes for sustainable intensification of agricultural systems. PLANT AND SOIL 2022; 478:177-209. [PMID: 36277079 PMCID: PMC9579094 DOI: 10.1007/s11104-022-05508-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Increasing food demand coupled with climate change pose a great challenge to agricultural systems. In this review we summarize recent advances in our knowledge of how plants, together with their associated microbiota, shape rhizosphere processes. We address (molecular) mechanisms operating at the plant-microbe-soil interface and aim to link this knowledge with actual and potential avenues for intensifying agricultural systems, while at the same time reducing irrigation water, fertilizer inputs and pesticide use. Combining in-depth knowledge about above and belowground plant traits will not only significantly advance our mechanistic understanding of involved processes but also allow for more informed decisions regarding agricultural practices and plant breeding. Including belowground plant-soil-microbe interactions in our breeding efforts will help to select crops resilient to abiotic and biotic environmental stresses and ultimately enable us to produce sufficient food in a more sustainable agriculture in the upcoming decades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Oburger
- Department of Forest and Soil Science, Institute of Soil Research, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Konrad Lorenzstrasse 24, 3430 Tulln an der Donau, Austria
| | - Hannes Schmidt
- Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Christiana Staudinger
- Department of Forest and Soil Science, Institute of Soil Research, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Konrad Lorenzstrasse 24, 3430 Tulln an der Donau, Austria
- Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, Kagamiyama 1-7-1, Higashi-Hiroshima, Japan
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39
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Hong Y, Zhou Q, Hao Y, Huang AC. Crafting the plant root metabolome for improved microbe-assisted stress resilience. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2022; 234:1945-1950. [PMID: 34877653 DOI: 10.1111/nph.17908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Plants and microbes coinhabit the earth and have coevolved during environmental changes over time. Root metabolites are the key to mediating the dynamic association between plants and microbes, yet the underlying functions and mechanisms behind this remain largely illusive. Knowledge of metabolite-mediated alteration of the root microbiota in response to environmental stress will open avenues for engineering root microbiotas for improved plant stress resistance and health. Here, we synthesize recent advances connecting environmental stresses, the root metabolome and microbiota, and propose integrated synthetic biology-based strategies for tuning the plant root metabolome in situ for microbe-assisted stress resistance, offering potential solutions to combat climate change. The current limitations, challenges and perspectives for engineering the plant root metabolome for modulating microbiota are collectively discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yechun Hong
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Design for Plant Cell Factory of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, SUSTech-PKU Institute of Plant and Food Science, Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, China
| | - Qian Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Design for Plant Cell Factory of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, SUSTech-PKU Institute of Plant and Food Science, Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, China
| | - Yuqiong Hao
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Design for Plant Cell Factory of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, SUSTech-PKU Institute of Plant and Food Science, Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, China
| | - Ancheng C Huang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Design for Plant Cell Factory of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, SUSTech-PKU Institute of Plant and Food Science, Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, China
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40
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Huang J, Bao M, Li J, Chen H, Xu D, Chen Z, Wen Y. Enantioselective Response of Wheat Seedlings to Imazethapyr: From the Perspective of Fe and the Secondary Metabolite DIMBOA. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2022; 70:5516-5525. [PMID: 35476430 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.1c07727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The responses of trace elements and secondary metabolites to stress can reflect plant adaptation to the environment. If and how the imperative trace element Fe and the defensive secondary metabolite 2,4-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-2H-1,4-benzoxazine-3(4H)-one (DIMBOA) mediate the toxicity of chiral herbicides to nontarget plants remains inconclusive. We found that the herbicidal-active imazethapyr enantiomer [(R)-IM] stimulated heme oxygenase-1 activity, triggered the release of the catalytic product Fe2+, increased reactive oxygen species production, decreased the DIMBOA content, and increased the DIMBOA-Fe content. XAFS analyses and in vitro Fenton assays demonstrated that DIMBOA could relieve phytotoxicity by chelating excessive Fe3+ to restore Fe homeostasis. The free radical scavenging ability of the chelate of DIMBOA and Fe was also involved. This work refines the dual role of DIMBOA and Fe in mediating the enantioselective phytotoxicity of chiral herbicides, which provides a new direction for improving the herbicide resistance of crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinye Huang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation & Ecosystem Health, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Manxin Bao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation & Ecosystem Health, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Jun Li
- MOE Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation & Ecosystem Health, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Hui Chen
- College of Science and Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Dongmei Xu
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Exposure and Health Intervention of Zhejiang Province, College of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou 310015, China
| | - Zunwei Chen
- Program in Molecular and Integrative Physiological Sciences, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard University T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Yuezhong Wen
- MOE Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation & Ecosystem Health, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
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Hu L, Wu Z, Robert CAM, Ouyang X, Züst T, Mestrot A, Xu J, Erb M. Soil chemistry determines whether defensive plant secondary metabolites promote or suppress herbivore growth. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2109602118. [PMID: 34675080 PMCID: PMC8639379 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2109602118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Plant secondary (or specialized) metabolites mediate important interactions in both the rhizosphere and the phyllosphere. If and how such compartmentalized functions interact to determine plant-environment interactions is not well understood. Here, we investigated how the dual role of maize benzoxazinoids as leaf defenses and root siderophores shapes the interaction between maize and a major global insect pest, the fall armyworm. We find that benzoxazinoids suppress fall armyworm growth when plants are grown in soils with very low available iron but enhance growth in soils with higher available iron. Manipulation experiments confirm that benzoxazinoids suppress herbivore growth under iron-deficient conditions and in the presence of chelated iron but enhance herbivore growth in the presence of free iron in the growth medium. This reversal of the protective effect of benzoxazinoids is not associated with major changes in plant primary metabolism. Plant defense activation is modulated by the interplay between soil iron and benzoxazinoids but does not explain fall armyworm performance. Instead, increased iron supply to the fall armyworm by benzoxazinoids in the presence of free iron enhances larval performance. This work identifies soil chemistry as a decisive factor for the impact of plant secondary metabolites on herbivore growth. It also demonstrates how the multifunctionality of plant secondary metabolites drives interactions between abiotic and biotic factors, with potential consequences for plant resistance in variable environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingfei Hu
- Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, 3013 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Zhenwei Wu
- Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | | | - Xiao Ouyang
- Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Tobias Züst
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, 3013 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Adrien Mestrot
- Institute of Geography, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jianming Xu
- Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China;
| | - Matthias Erb
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, 3013 Bern, Switzerland;
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Huber M, Roder T, Irmisch S, Riedel A, Gablenz S, Fricke J, Rahfeld P, Reichelt M, Paetz C, Liechti N, Hu L, Bont Z, Meng Y, Huang W, Robert CA, Gershenzon J, Erb M. A beta-glucosidase of an insect herbivore determines both toxicity and deterrence of a dandelion defense metabolite. eLife 2021; 10:68642. [PMID: 34632981 PMCID: PMC8504966 DOI: 10.7554/elife.68642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Gut enzymes can metabolize plant defense compounds and thereby affect the growth and fitness of insect herbivores. Whether these enzymes also influence feeding preference is largely unknown. We studied the metabolization of taraxinic acid β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (TA-G), a sesquiterpene lactone of the common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) that deters its major root herbivore, the common cockchafer larva (Melolontha melolontha). We have demonstrated that TA-G is rapidly deglucosylated and conjugated to glutathione in the insect gut. A broad-spectrum M. melolontha β-glucosidase, Mm_bGlc17, is sufficient and necessary for TA-G deglucosylation. Using cross-species RNA interference, we have shown that Mm_bGlc17 reduces TA-G toxicity. Furthermore, Mm_bGlc17 is required for the preference of M. melolontha larvae for TA-G-deficient plants. Thus, herbivore metabolism modulates both the toxicity and deterrence of a plant defense compound. Our work illustrates the multifaceted roles of insect digestive enzymes as mediators of plant-herbivore interactions. Plants produce certain substances to fend off attackers like plant-feeding insects. To stop these compounds from damaging their own cells, plants often attach sugar molecules to them. When an insect tries to eat the plant, the plant removes the stabilizing sugar, ‘activating’ the compounds and making them toxic or foul-tasting. Curiously, some insects remove the sugar themselves, but it is unclear what consequences this has, especially for insect behavior. Dandelions, Taraxacum officinale, make high concentrations of a sugar-containing defense compound in their roots called taraxinic acid β-D-glucopyranosyl ester, or TA-G for short. TA-G deters the larvae of the Maybug – a pest also known as the common cockchafer or the doodlebug – from eating dandelion roots. When Maybug larvae do eat TA-G, it is found in their systems without its sugar. However, it is unclear whether it is the plant or the larva that removes the sugar. A second open question is how the sugar removal process affects the behavior of the Maybug larvae. Using chemical analysis and genetic manipulation, Huber et al. investigated what happens when Maybug larvae eat TA-G. This revealed that the acidity levels in the larvae’s digestive system deactivate the proteins from the dandelion that would normally remove the sugar from TA-G. However, rather than leaving the compound intact, larvae remove the sugar from TA-G themselves. They do this using a digestive enzyme, known as a beta-glucosidase, that cuts through sugar. Removing the sugar from TA-G made the compound less toxic, allowing the larvae to grow bigger, but it also increased TA-G’s deterrent effects, making the larvae less likely to eat the roots. Any organism that eats plants, including humans, must deal with chemicals like TA-G in their food. Once inside the body, enzymes can change these chemicals, altering their effects. This happens with many medicines, too. In the future, it might be possible to design compounds that activate only in certain species, or under certain conditions. Further studies in different systems may aid the development of new methods of pest control, or new drug treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meret Huber
- Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany.,Department of Biochemistry, Max-Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - Thomas Roder
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sandra Irmisch
- Department of Biochemistry, Max-Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - Alexander Riedel
- Department of Biochemistry, Max-Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - Saskia Gablenz
- Department of Biochemistry, Max-Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - Julia Fricke
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Peter Rahfeld
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Max-Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - Michael Reichelt
- Department of Biochemistry, Max-Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - Christian Paetz
- Research group Biosynthesis/NMR, Max-Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - Nicole Liechti
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Lingfei Hu
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Zoe Bont
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ye Meng
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Wei Huang
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Jonathan Gershenzon
- Department of Biochemistry, Max-Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - Matthias Erb
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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Climate Change Modulates Multitrophic Interactions Between Maize, A Root Herbivore, and Its Enemies. J Chem Ecol 2021; 47:889-906. [PMID: 34415498 PMCID: PMC8613123 DOI: 10.1007/s10886-021-01303-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
How climate change will modify belowground tritrophic interactions is poorly understood, despite their importance for agricultural productivity. Here, we manipulated the three major abiotic factors associated with climate change (atmospheric CO2, temperature, and soil moisture) and investigated their individual and joint effects on the interaction between maize, the banded cucumber beetle (Diabrotica balteata), and the entomopathogenic nematode (EPN) Heterorhabditis bacteriophora. Changes in individual abiotic parameters had a strong influence on plant biomass, leaf wilting, sugar concentrations, protein levels, and benzoxazinoid contents. Yet, when combined to simulate a predicted climate scenario (Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5, RCP 8.5), their effects mostly counter-balanced each other. Only the sharp negative impact of drought on leaf wilting was not fully compensated. In both current and predicted scenarios, root damage resulted in increased leaf wilting, reduced root biomass, and reconfigured the plant sugar metabolism. Single climatic variables modulated the herbivore performance and survival in an additive manner, although slight interactions were also observed. Increased temperature and CO2 levels both enhanced the performance of the insect, but elevated temperature also decreased its survival. Elevated temperatures and CO2 further directly impeded the EPN infectivity potential, while lower moisture levels improved it through plant- and/or herbivore-mediated changes. In the RCP 8.5 scenario, temperature and CO2 showed interactive effects on EPN infectivity, which was overall decreased by 40%. We conclude that root pest problems may worsen with climate change due to increased herbivore performance and reduced top-down control by biological control agents.
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van Doan C, Züst T, Maurer C, Zhang X, Machado RAR, Mateo P, Ye M, Schimmel BCJ, Glauser G, Robert CAM. Herbivore-induced plant volatiles mediate defense regulation in maize leaves but not in maize roots. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2021; 44:2672-2686. [PMID: 33748996 PMCID: PMC8360093 DOI: 10.1111/pce.14052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Plant leaves that are exposed to herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) respond by increasing their defenses, a phenomenon referred to as priming. Whether this phenomenon also occurs in the roots is unknown. Using maize plants, Zea mays, whose leaves respond strongly to leaf HIPVs, we measured the impact of belowground HIPVs, emanating from roots infested by the banded cucumber beetle, Diabrotica balteata, on constitutive and herbivore-induced levels of defense-related gene expression, phytohormones, volatile and non-volatile primary and secondary metabolites, growth and herbivore resistance in roots of neighbouring plants. HIPV exposure did not increase constitutive or induced levels of any of the measured root traits. Furthermore, HIPV exposure did not reduce the performance or survival of D. balteata on maize or its ancestor teosinte. Cross-exposure experiments between HIPVs from roots and leaves revealed that maize roots, in contrast to maize leaves, neither emit nor respond strongly to defense-regulating HIPVs. Together, these results demonstrate that volatile-mediated defense regulation is restricted to the leaves of maize. This finding is in line with the lower diffusibility of volatiles in the soil and the availability of other, potentially more efficient, information conduits below ground.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong van Doan
- Institute of Plant SciencesUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland
- Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research (OCCR)University of BernBernSwitzerland
| | - Tobias Züst
- Institute of Plant SciencesUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland
| | - Corina Maurer
- Institute of Plant SciencesUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland
| | - Xi Zhang
- Institute of Plant SciencesUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland
| | | | - Pierre Mateo
- Institute of Plant SciencesUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland
| | - Meng Ye
- Institute of Plant SciencesUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland
| | | | - Gaétan Glauser
- Neuchâtel Platform of Analytical ChemistryUniversité de NeuchâtelNeuchâtelSwitzerland
| | - Christelle A. M. Robert
- Institute of Plant SciencesUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland
- Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research (OCCR)University of BernBernSwitzerland
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Abedini D, Jaupitre S, Bouwmeester H, Dong L. Metabolic interactions in beneficial microbe recruitment by plants. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2021; 70:241-247. [PMID: 34237663 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2021.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
During millions of years of evolution, land plants and microorganisms have established elaborate partnerships. Microbes play essential roles in plant fitness and help plants cope with environmental challenges. Vice versa, plants provide the microbes with a niche and food. In the soil, a complex network of interactions mediated by metabolic signals drives the relationship between plants and microbes. Here, we review the roles of metabolic signaling in the plant-microbiome interaction. We discuss how plant-produced small molecules are involved in the recruitment of the microbiome. Also the microbial partners in this relationship use small molecules, such as quorum sensing molecules and volatiles for intra-species and inter-species communication. We give an overview of the regulation of the biosynthesis, secretion and perception of both plant and microbial small molecules and discuss the examples of biotechnological approaches to engineer the plant-microbiome interaction by targeting these metabolic dialogues. Ultimately, an improved understanding of the plant-microbiome interaction and engineering possibilities will pave the way to a more sustainable agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davar Abedini
- Plant Hormone Biology Group, Green Life Sciences Cluster, Swammerdam Institute for Life Science, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sébastien Jaupitre
- Plant Hormone Biology Group, Green Life Sciences Cluster, Swammerdam Institute for Life Science, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Harro Bouwmeester
- Plant Hormone Biology Group, Green Life Sciences Cluster, Swammerdam Institute for Life Science, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lemeng Dong
- Plant Hormone Biology Group, Green Life Sciences Cluster, Swammerdam Institute for Life Science, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Singh A, Dilkes B, Sela H, Tzin V. The Effectiveness of Physical and Chemical Defense Responses of Wild Emmer Wheat Against Aphids Depends on Leaf Position and Genotype. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:667820. [PMID: 34262579 PMCID: PMC8273356 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.667820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
The bird cherry-oat aphid (Rhopalosiphum padi) is one of the most destructive insect pests in wheat production. To reduce aphid damage, wheat plants have evolved various chemical and physical defense mechanisms. Although these mechanisms have been frequently reported, much less is known about their effectiveness. The tetraploid wild emmer wheat (WEW; Triticum turgidum ssp. dicoccoides), one of the progenitors of domesticated wheat, possesses untapped resources from its numerous desirable traits, including insect resistance. The goal of this research was to determine the effectiveness of trichomes (physical defense) and benzoxazinoids (BXDs; chemical defense) in aphid resistance by exploiting the natural diversity of WEW. We integrated a large dataset composed of trichome density and BXD abundance across wheat genotypes, different leaf positions, conditions (constitutive and aphid-induced), and tissues (whole leaf and phloem sap). First, we evaluated aphid reproduction on 203 wheat accessions and found large variation in this trait. Then, we chose eight WEW genotypes and one domesticated durum wheat cultivar for detailed quantification of the defense mechanisms across three leaves. We discovered that these defense mechanisms are influenced by both leaf position and genotype, where aphid reproduction was the highest on leaf-1 (the oldest), and trichome density was the lowest. We compared the changes in trichome density and BXD levels upon aphid infestation and found only minor changes relative to untreated plants. This suggests that the defense mechanisms in the whole leaf are primarily anticipatory and unlikely to contribute to aphid-induced defense. Next, we quantified BXD levels in the phloem sap and detected a significant induction of two compounds upon aphid infestation. Moreover, evaluating aphid feeding patterns showed that aphids prefer to feed on the oldest leaf. These findings revealed the dynamic response at the whole leaf and phloem levels that altered aphid feeding and reproduction. Overall, they suggested that trichomes and the BXD 2,4-dihydroxy-7- methoxy-1,4-benzoxazin-3-one (DIMBOA) levels are the main factors determining aphid resistance, while trichomes are more effective than BXDs. Accessions from the WEW germplasm, rich with trichomes and BXDs, can be used as new genetic sources to improve the resistance of elite wheat cultivars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anuradha Singh
- Jacob Blaustein Center for Scientific Cooperation, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel
| | - Brian Dilkes
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Hanan Sela
- The Institute for Cereal Crops Improvement, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Institute of Evolution, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Vered Tzin
- French Associates Institute for Agriculture and Biotechnology of Drylands, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel
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Mori N, Noge K. Recent advances in chemical ecology: complex interactions mediated by molecules. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 2021; 85:33-41. [PMID: 33577654 DOI: 10.1093/bbb/zbaa034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Chemical ecology is the highly interdisciplinary study of biochemicals that mediate the behavior of organisms and the regulation of physiological changes that alter intraspecific and/or interspecific interactions. Significant advances are often achieved through the collaboration of chemists and biologists working to understand organismal survival strategies with an eye on the development of targeted technologies for controlling agricultural, forestry, medical, and veterinary pests in a sustainable world. We highlight recent advances in chemical ecology from multiple viewpoints and discuss future prospects for applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoki Mori
- Division of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Koji Noge
- Department of Biological Production, Faculty of Bioresource Sciences, Akita Prefectural University, Shimoshinjyo-Nakano, Akita, Japan
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Ding Y, Northen TR, Khalil A, Huffaker A, Schmelz EA. Getting back to the grass roots: harnessing specialized metabolites for improved crop stress resilience. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2021; 70:174-186. [PMID: 34129999 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2021.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Roots remain an understudied site of complex and important biological interactions mediating plant productivity. In grain and bioenergy crops, grass root specialized metabolites (GRSM) are central to key interactions, yet our basic knowledge of the chemical language remains fragmentary. Continued improvements in plant genome assembly and metabolomics are enabling large-scale advances in the discovery of specialized metabolic pathways as a means of regulating root-biotic interactions. Metabolomics, transcript coexpression analyses, forward genetic studies, gene synthesis and heterologous expression assays drive efficient pathway discoveries. Functional genetic variants identified through genome wide analyses, targeted CRISPR/Cas9 approaches, and both native and non-native overexpression studies critically inform novel strategies for bioengineering metabolic pathways to improve plant traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yezhang Ding
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Trent R Northen
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA 94608, USA
| | - Ahmed Khalil
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Alisa Huffaker
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Eric A Schmelz
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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Cadot S, Guan H, Bigalke M, Walser JC, Jander G, Erb M, van der Heijden MGA, Schlaeppi K. Specific and conserved patterns of microbiota-structuring by maize benzoxazinoids in the field. MICROBIOME 2021; 9:103. [PMID: 33962687 DOI: 10.1101/2020.05.03.075135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plants influence their root and rhizosphere microbial communities through the secretion of root exudates. However, how specific classes of root exudate compounds impact the assembly of root-associated microbiotas is not well understood, especially not under realistic field conditions. Maize roots secrete benzoxazinoids (BXs), a class of indole-derived defense compounds, and thereby impact the assembly of their microbiota. Here, we investigated the broader impacts of BX exudation on root and rhizosphere microbiotas of adult maize plants grown under natural conditions at different field locations in Europe and the USA. We examined the microbiotas of BX-producing and multiple BX-defective lines in two genetic backgrounds across three soils with different properties. RESULTS Our analysis showed that BX secretion affected the community composition of the rhizosphere and root microbiota, with the most pronounced effects observed for root fungi. The impact of BX exudation was at least as strong as the genetic background, suggesting that BX exudation is a key trait by which maize structures its associated microbiota. BX-producing plants were not consistently enriching microbial lineages across the three field experiments. However, BX exudation consistently depleted Flavobacteriaceae and Comamonadaceae and enriched various potential plant pathogenic fungi in the roots across the different environments. CONCLUSIONS These findings reveal that BXs have a selective impact on root and rhizosphere microbiota composition across different conditions. Taken together, this study identifies the BX pathway as an interesting breeding target to manipulate plant-microbiome interactions. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selma Cadot
- Division of Agroecology and Environment, Agroscope, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Bernoullistrasse 32, 4056, Basel, Switzerland
- Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Hang Guan
- Institute of Geography, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Moritz Bigalke
- Institute of Geography, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Matthias Erb
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Marcel G A van der Heijden
- Division of Agroecology and Environment, Agroscope, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Environmental Biology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Klaus Schlaeppi
- Division of Agroecology and Environment, Agroscope, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Bernoullistrasse 32, 4056, Basel, Switzerland.
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
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50
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Cadot S, Guan H, Bigalke M, Walser JC, Jander G, Erb M, van der Heijden MGA, Schlaeppi K. Specific and conserved patterns of microbiota-structuring by maize benzoxazinoids in the field. MICROBIOME 2021; 9:103. [PMID: 33962687 PMCID: PMC8106187 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-021-01049-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plants influence their root and rhizosphere microbial communities through the secretion of root exudates. However, how specific classes of root exudate compounds impact the assembly of root-associated microbiotas is not well understood, especially not under realistic field conditions. Maize roots secrete benzoxazinoids (BXs), a class of indole-derived defense compounds, and thereby impact the assembly of their microbiota. Here, we investigated the broader impacts of BX exudation on root and rhizosphere microbiotas of adult maize plants grown under natural conditions at different field locations in Europe and the USA. We examined the microbiotas of BX-producing and multiple BX-defective lines in two genetic backgrounds across three soils with different properties. RESULTS Our analysis showed that BX secretion affected the community composition of the rhizosphere and root microbiota, with the most pronounced effects observed for root fungi. The impact of BX exudation was at least as strong as the genetic background, suggesting that BX exudation is a key trait by which maize structures its associated microbiota. BX-producing plants were not consistently enriching microbial lineages across the three field experiments. However, BX exudation consistently depleted Flavobacteriaceae and Comamonadaceae and enriched various potential plant pathogenic fungi in the roots across the different environments. CONCLUSIONS These findings reveal that BXs have a selective impact on root and rhizosphere microbiota composition across different conditions. Taken together, this study identifies the BX pathway as an interesting breeding target to manipulate plant-microbiome interactions. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selma Cadot
- Division of Agroecology and Environment, Agroscope, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Bernoullistrasse 32, 4056, Basel, Switzerland
- Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Hang Guan
- Institute of Geography, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Moritz Bigalke
- Institute of Geography, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Matthias Erb
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Marcel G A van der Heijden
- Division of Agroecology and Environment, Agroscope, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Environmental Biology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Klaus Schlaeppi
- Division of Agroecology and Environment, Agroscope, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Bernoullistrasse 32, 4056, Basel, Switzerland.
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
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