The root-knot nematode effector MiEFF12 targets the host ER quality control system to suppress immune responses and allow parasitism.

Root-knot nematodes (RKNs) are microscopic parasitic worms able to infest the roots of thousands of plant species, causing massive crop yield losses worldwide. They evade the plant's immune system and manipulate plant cell physiology and metabolism to transform a few root cells into giant cells, which serve as feeding sites for the nematode. RKN parasitism is facilitated by the secretion in planta of effector molecules, mostly proteins that hijack host cellular processes. We describe here a conserved RKN-specific effector, effector 12 (EFF12), that is synthesized exclusively in the oesophageal glands of the nematode, and we demonstrate its function in parasitism. In the plant, MiEFF12 localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). A combination of RNA-sequencing analysis and immunity-suppression bioassays revealed the contribution of MiEFF12 to the modulation of host immunity. Yeast two-hybrid, split luciferase and co-immunoprecipitation approaches identified an essential component of the ER quality control system, the Solanum lycopersicum plant bap-like (PBL), and basic leucine zipper 60 (BZIP60) proteins as host targets of MiEFF12. Finally, silencing the PBL genes in Nicotiana benthamiana decreased susceptibility to Meloidogyne incognita infection. Our results suggest that EFF12 manipulates PBL function to modify plant immune responses to allow parasitism.

Multigenerational Adaptation Can Enhance the Pathogen Resistance of Plants via Changes in Rhizosphere Microbial Community Assembly.

Plants withstand pathogen attacks by recruiting beneficial bacteria to the rhizosphere and passing their legacy on to the next generation. However, the underlying mechanisms involved in this process remain unclear. In our study, we combined microbiomic and transcriptomic analyses to reveal how the rhizosphere microbiome assembled through multiple generations and defense-related genes expressed in Arabidopsis thaliana under pathogen attack stress. Our results showed that continuous exposure to the pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv tomato DC3000 led to improved growth and increased disease resistance in a third generation of rps2 mutant Arabidopsis thaliana. It could be attributed to the enrichment of specific rhizosphere bacteria, such as Bacillus and Bacteroides. Pathways associated with plant immunity and growth in A. thaliana, such as MAPK signaling pathways, phytohormone signal transduction, ABC transporter proteins, and flavonoid biosynthesis, were activated under the influence of rhizosphere bacterial communities. Our findings provide a scientific basis for explaining the relationship between beneficial microbes and defense-related gene expression. Understanding microbial communities and the mechanisms involved in plant responses to disease can contribute to better plant management and reduction of pesticide use.

Detection of Reactive Oxygen Species in Plant Root Immunity.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production is a key early defense mechanism in plants when exposed to biotic stress. Upon recognition of conserved microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) from pathogens by plant receptors, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidases in the plasma membrane are activated to produce hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). This, in turn, regulates multiple signaling pathways to trigger immunity and suppress pathogen infection. Monitoring the ROS burst in plant leaves can be done within minutes of MAMPs treatment. However, there is limited research on the quantification of ROS production in plant root tissues during the activation of plant immunity. In this study, we introduce a rapid, accessible, and straightforward technique for measuring MAMPs-triggered ROS bursts in the roots of the model legume Medicago truncatula. This method will facilitate the investigation of plant root responses to biotic and abiotic stresses.

Seed pretreatment with brassinosteroids stimulates sunflower immunity against parasitic weed (Orobanche cumana) infection.

Broomrape (Orobanche cumana) negatively affects sunflower, causing severe yield losses, and thus, there is a need to control O. cumana infestation. Brassinosteroids (BRs) play key roles in plant growth and provide resilience to weed infection. This study aims to evaluate the mechanisms by which BRs ameliorate O. cumana infection in sunflower (Helianthus annuus). Seeds were pretreated with BRs (1, 10, and 100 nM) and O. cumana inoculation for 4 weeks under soil conditions. O. cumana infection significantly reduced plant growth traits, photosynthesis, endogenous BRs and regulated the plant defence (POX, GST), BRs signalling (BAK1, BSK1 to BSK4) and synthesis (BRI1, BR6OX2) genes. O. cumana also elevated the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), hydroxyl radical (OH-), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and superoxide (O2 •-) in leaves/roots by 77/112, 63/103, 56/97 and 54/89%, as well as caused ultrastructural cellular damages in both leaves and roots. In response, plants activated a few enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and reduced glutathione but were unable to stimulate the activity of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and catalase (CAT) enzymes. The addition of BRs (especially at 10 nM) notably recovered the ultrastructural cellular damages, lowered the production of oxidative stress, activated the key enzymatic antioxidants and induced the phenolic and lignin contents. The downregulation in the particular genes by BRs is attributed to the increased resilience of sunflower via a susceptible reaction. In a nutshell, BRs notably enhanced the sunflower resistance to O. cumana infection by escalating the plant immunity responses, inducing systemic acquired resistance, reducing oxidative or cellular damages, and modulating the expression of BR synthesis or signalling genes.

Long-Term Consequences of PTI Activation and Its Manipulation by Root-Associated Microbiota.

In nature, plants are constantly colonized by a massive diversity of microbes engaged in mutualistic, pathogenic or commensal relationships with the host. Molecular patterns present in these microbes activate pattern-triggered immunity (PTI), which detects microbes in the apoplast or at the tissue surface. Whether and how PTI distinguishes among soil-borne pathogens, opportunistic pathogens, and commensal microbes within the soil microbiota remains unclear. PTI is a multimodal series of molecular events initiated by pattern perception, such as Ca2+ influx, reactive oxygen burst, and extensive transcriptional and metabolic reprogramming. These short-term responses may manifest within minutes to hours, while the long-term consequences of chronic PTI activation persist for days to weeks. Chronic activation of PTI is detrimental to plant growth, so plants need to coordinate growth and defense depending on the surrounding biotic and abiotic environments. Recent studies have demonstrated that root-associated commensal microbes can activate or suppress immune responses to variable extents, clearly pointing to the role of PTI in root-microbiota interactions. However, the molecular mechanisms by which root commensals interfere with root immunity and root immunity modulates microbial behavior remain largely elusive. Here, with a focus on the difference between short-term and long-term PTI responses, we summarize what is known about microbial interference with host PTI, especially in the context of root microbiota. We emphasize some missing pieces that remain to be characterized to promote the ultimate understanding of the role of plant immunity in root-microbiota interactions.

A root-knot nematode effector targets the Arabidopsis cysteine protease RD21A for degradation to suppress plant defense and promote parasitism.

Meloidogyne incognita is one of the most widely distributed plant-parasitic nematodes and causes severe economic losses annually. The parasite produces effector proteins that play essential roles in successful parasitism. Here, we identified one such effector named MiCE108, which is exclusively expressed within the nematode subventral esophageal gland cells and is upregulated in the early parasitic stage of M. incognita. A yeast signal sequence trap assay showed that MiCE108 contains a functional signal peptide for secretion. Virus-induced gene silencing of MiCE108 impaired the parasitism of M. incognita in Nicotiana benthamiana. The ectopic expression of MiCE108 in Arabidopsis suppressed the deposition of callose, the generation of reactive oxygen species, and the expression of marker genes for bacterial flagellin epitope flg22-triggered immunity, resulting in increased susceptibility to M. incognita, Botrytis cinerea, and Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst) DC3000. The MiCE108 protein physically associates with the plant defense protease RD21A and promotes its degradation via the endosomal-dependent pathway, or 26S proteasome. Consistent with this, knockout of RD21A compromises the innate immunity of Arabidopsis and increases its susceptibility to a broad range of pathogens, including M. incognita, strongly indicating a role in defense against this nematode. Together, our data suggest that M. incognita deploys the effector MiCE108 to target Arabidopsis cysteine protease RD21A and affect its stability, thereby suppressing plant innate immunity and facilitating parasitism.

Spatial IMA1 regulation restricts root iron acquisition on MAMP perception.

Iron is critical during host-microorganism interactions1-4. Restriction of available iron by the host during infection is an important defence strategy, described as nutritional immunity5. However, this poses a conundrum for externally facing, absorptive tissues such as the gut epithelium or the plant root epidermis that generate environments that favour iron bioavailability. For example, plant roots acquire iron mostly from the soil and, when iron deficient, increase iron availability through mechanisms that include rhizosphere acidification and secretion of iron chelators6-9. Yet, the elevated iron bioavailability would also be beneficial for the growth of bacteria that threaten plant health. Here we report that microorganism-associated molecular patterns such as flagellin lead to suppression of root iron acquisition through a localized degradation of the systemic iron-deficiency signalling peptide Iron Man 1 (IMA1) in Arabidopsis thaliana. This response is also elicited when bacteria enter root tissues, but not when they dwell on the outer root surface. IMA1 itself has a role in modulating immunity in root and shoot, affecting the levels of root colonization and the resistance to a bacterial foliar pathogen. Our findings reveal an adaptive molecular mechanism of nutritional immunity that affects iron bioavailability and uptake, as well as immune responses.

A Comparison Between Meloidogyne floridensis and M. incognita from California on Susceptible and Resistant Sweetpotato Cultivars.

The reproduction and ability to cause root-galling of a California isolate of the peach root-knot nematode Meloidogyne floridensis was evaluated on seven sweetpotato (Ipomea batatas) cultivars and compared with an M. incognita race 3 and an M. incognita Mi-gene resistance-breaking isolate. The susceptible tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) cultivar Daniela and the Mi-gene-carrying resistant cultivar Celebrity were included as controls. Repeated trials were done in pots in a nematode-quarantine greenhouse at the University of California, Riverside. The three Meloidogyne isolates reproduced equally well on susceptible tomato. On Mi-gene resistant tomato, the reproduction and root-galling by M. floridensis was intermediate between the avirulent M. incognita race 3 and the resistance-breaking M. incognita isolate. The sweetpotato cultivars 'Beauregard' and 'Diane' were excellent hosts for all three Meloidogyne isolates. Cultivars Bellevue, Burgundy, and Covington were resistant to these isolates. The cultivars Bonita and Murasaki-29 were hosts for the M. floridensis and the resistance-breaking M. incognita isolate, which allowed an increase in nematode levels, but they were poor hosts, resulting in a decrease in nematode levels for the M. incognita race 3 isolate. The study showed that M. floridensis can reproduce on tomato and some sweetpotato cultivars that are considered resistant to M. incognita.

Lipopolysaccharide O-antigen molecular and supramolecular modifications of plant root microbiota are pivotal for host recognition.

Lipopolysaccharides, the major outer membrane components of Gram-negative bacteria, are crucial actors of the host-microbial dialogue. They can contribute to the establishment of either symbiosis or bacterial virulence, depending on the bacterial lifestyle. Plant microbiota shows great complexity, promotes plant health and growth and assures protection from pathogens. How plants perceive LPS from plant-associated bacteria and discriminate between beneficial and pathogenic microbes is an open and urgent question. Here, we report on the structure, conformation, membrane properties and immune recognition of LPS isolated from the Arabidopsis thaliana root microbiota member Herbaspirillum sp. Root189. The LPS consists of an O-methylated and variously acetylated D-rhamnose containing polysaccharide with a rather hydrophobic surface. Plant immunology studies in A. thaliana demonstrate that the native acetylated O-antigen shields the LPS from immune recognition whereas the O-deacylated one does not. These findings highlight the role of Herbaspirillum LPS within plant-microbial crosstalk, and how O-antigen modifications influence membrane properties and modulate LPS host recognition.

Soybean miR159-GmMYB33 Regulatory Network Involved in Gibberellin-Modulated Resistance to Heterodera glycines.

Soybean cyst nematode (SCN, Heterodera glycines) is an obligate sedentary biotroph that poses major threats to soybean production globally. Recently, multiple miRNAome studies revealed that miRNAs participate in complicated soybean-SCN interactions by regulating their target genes. However, the functional roles of miRNA and target genes regulatory network are still poorly understood. In present study, we firstly investigated the expression patterns of miR159 and targeted GmMYB33 genes. The results showed miR159-3p downregulation during SCN infection; conversely, GmMYB33 genes upregulated. Furthermore, miR159 overexpressing and silencing soybean hairy roots exhibited strong resistance and susceptibility to H. glycines, respectively. In particular, miR159-GAMYB genes are reported to be involve in GA signaling and metabolism. Therefore, we then investigated the effects of GA application on the expression of miR159-GAMYB module and the development of H. glycines. We found that GA directly controls the miR159-GAMYB module, and exogenous GA application enhanced endogenous biologically active GA1 and GA3, the abundance of miR159, lowered the expression of GmMYB33 genes and delayed the development of H. glycines. Moreover, SCN infection also results in endogenous GA content decreased in soybean roots. In summary, the soybean miR159-GmMYB33 module was directly involved in the GA-modulated soybean resistance to H. glycines.

Plant immune system activation is necessary for efficient root colonization by auxin-secreting beneficial bacteria.

Although plant roots encounter a plethora of microorganisms in the surrounding soil, at the rhizosphere, plants exert selective forces on their bacterial colonizers. Unlike immune recognition of pathogenic bacteria, the mechanisms by which beneficial bacteria are selected and how they interact with the plant immune system are not well understood. To better understand this process, we studied the interaction of auxin-producing Bacillus velezensis FZB42 with Arabidopsis roots and found that activation of the plant immune system is necessary for efficient bacterial colonization and auxin secretion. A feedback loop is established in which bacterial colonization triggers an immune reaction and production of reactive oxygen species, which, in turn, stimulate auxin production by the bacteria. Auxin promotes bacterial survival and efficient root colonization, allowing the bacteria to inhibit fungal infection and promote plant health. Thus, a feedback loop between bacteria and the plant immune system promotes the fitness of both partners.

Transcriptome analysis reveals key genes associated with root-lesion nematode Pratylenchus thornei resistance in chickpea.

The root-lesion nematode, Pratylenchus thornei, is one of the major plant-parasitic nematode species causing significant yield losses in chickpea (Cicer arietinum). In order to identify the underlying mechanisms of resistance to P. thornei, the transcriptomes of control and inoculated roots of three chickpea genotypes viz. D05253 > F3TMWR2AB001 (resistant advanced breeding line), PBA HatTrick (moderately resistant cultivar), and Kyabra (susceptible cultivar) were studied at 20 and 50 days post inoculation using the RNA-seq approach. On analyzing the 633.3 million reads generated, 962 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. Comparative analysis revealed that the majority of DEGs upregulated in the resistant genotype were downregulated in the moderately resistant and susceptible genotypes. Transcription factor families WRKY and bZIP were uniquely expressed in the resistant genotype. The genes Cysteine-rich receptor-like protein kinase 10, Protein lifeguard-like, Protein detoxification, Bidirectional sugar transporter Sugars Will Eventually be Exported Transporters1 (SWEET1), and Subtilisin-like protease were found to play cross-functional roles in the resistant chickpea genotype against P. thornei. The identified candidate genes for resistance to P. thornei in chickpea can be explored further to develop markers and accelerate the introgression of P. thornei resistance into elite chickpea cultivars.

GWAS provides biological insights into mechanisms of the parasitic plant (Striga) resistance in sorghum.

BACKGROUND: Sorghum yields in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are greatly reduced by parasitic plants of the genus Striga (witchweed). Vast global sorghum genetic diversity collections, as well as the availability of modern sequencing technologies, can be potentially harnessed to effectively manage the parasite. RESULTS: We used laboratory assays - rhizotrons to screen a global sorghum diversity panel to identify new sources of resistance to Striga; determine mechanisms of resistance, and elucidate genetic loci underlying the resistance using genome-wide association studies (GWAS). New Striga resistant sorghum determined by the number, size and biomass of parasite attachments were identified. Resistance was by; i) mechanical barriers that blocked parasite entry, ii) elicitation of a hypersensitive reaction that interfered with parasite development, and iii) the inability of the parasite to develop vascular connections with hosts. Resistance genes underpinning the resistance corresponded with the resistance mechanisms and included pleiotropic drug resistance proteins that transport resistance molecules; xylanase inhibitors involved in cell wall fortification and hormonal regulators of resistance response, Ethylene Response Factors. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings are of fundamental importance to developing durable and broad-spectrum resistance against Striga and have far-reaching applications in many SSA countries where Striga threatens the livelihoods of millions of smallholder farmers that rely on sorghum as a food staple.

Arabidopsis non-host resistance PSS30 gene enhances broad-spectrum disease resistance in the soybean cultivar Williams 82.

Non-host resistance (NHR), which protects all members of a plant species from non-adapted or non-host plant pathogens, is the most common form of plant immunity. NHR provides the most durable and robust form of broad-spectrum immunity against non-adaptive pathogens pathogenic to other crop species. In a mutant screen for loss of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) NHR against the soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) pathogen Phytophthora sojae, the Phytophthora sojae-susceptible 30 (pss30) mutant was identified. The pss30 mutant is also susceptible to the soybean pathogen Fusarium virguliforme. PSS30 encodes a folate transporter, AtFOLT1, which was previously localized to chloroplasts and implicated in the transport of folate from the cytosol to plastids. We show that two Arabidopsis folate biosynthesis mutants with reduced folate levels exhibit a loss of non-host immunity against P. sojae. As compared to the wild-type Col-0 ecotype, the steady-state folate levels are reduced in the pss1, atfolt1 and two folate biosynthesis mutants, suggesting that folate is required for non-host immunity. Overexpression of AtFOLT1 enhances immunity of transgenic soybean lines against two serious soybean pathogens, the fungal pathogen F. virguliforme and the soybean cyst nematode (SCN) Heterodera glycines. Transgenic lines showing enhanced SCN resistance also showed increased levels of folate accumulation. This study thus suggests that folate contributes to non-host plant immunity and that overexpression of a non-host resistance gene could be a suitable strategy for generating broad-spectrum disease resistance in crop plants.

Transcriptome analysis of scions grafted to potato rootstock for improving late blight resistance.

BACKGROUND: Late blight seriously threatens potato cultivation worldwide. The severe and widespread damage caused by the fungal pathogen can lead to drastic decreases in potato yield. Although grafting technology has been widely used to improve crop resistance, the effects of grafting on potato late blight resistance as well as the associated molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Therefore, we performed RNA transcriptome sequencing analysis and the late blight resistance testing of the scion when the potato late blight-resistant variety Qingshu 9 and the susceptible variety Favorita were used as the rootstock and scion, respectively, and vice versa. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of the rootstock on scion disease resistance and to clarify the related molecular mechanisms. RESULTS: A Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis revealed that the expression levels of genes related to plant-pathogen interactions, plant mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways, and plant hormone signal transduction pathways were significantly up-regulated in the scion when Qingshu 9 was used as the rootstock. Some of these genes encoded calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs), chitin elicitor receptor kinases (CERKs), LRR receptor serine/threonine protein kinases (LRR-LRKs), NPR family proteins in the salicylic acid synthesis pathway, and MAPKs which were potato late blight response proteins. When Favorita was used as the rootstock, only a few genes of late blight response genes were upregulated in the scion of Qingshu 9. Grafted plants using resistant variety as rootstocks inoculated with P. infestans spores showed significant reductions in lesion size while no significant difference in lesion size was observed when susceptible variety was used as the rootstock. We also showed that this induction of disease resistance in scions, especially scions derived from susceptible potato varieties was mediated by the up-regulation of expression of genes involved in plant disease resistance in scions. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that potato grafting using late blight resistant varieties as rootstocks could render or enhance resistance to late blight in scions derived from susceptible varieties via up-regulating the expression of disease resistant genes in scions. The results provide the basis for exploring the molecular mechanism underlying the effects of rootstocks on scion disease resistance.

The phenylpropanoid pathway inhibitor piperonylic acid induces broad-spectrum pest and disease resistance in plants.

Although many phenylpropanoid pathway-derived molecules act as physical and chemical barriers to pests and pathogens, comparatively little is known about their role in regulating plant immunity. To explore this research field, we transiently perturbed the phenylpropanoid pathway through application of the CINNAMIC ACID-4-HYDROXYLASE (C4H) inhibitor piperonylic acid (PA). Using bioassays involving diverse pests and pathogens, we show that transient C4H inhibition triggers systemic, broad-spectrum resistance in higher plants without affecting growth. PA treatment enhances tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) resistance in field and laboratory conditions, thereby illustrating the potential of phenylpropanoid pathway perturbation in crop protection. At the molecular level, transcriptome and metabolome analyses reveal that transient C4H inhibition in tomato reprograms phenylpropanoid and flavonoid metabolism, systemically induces immune signalling and pathogenesis-related genes, and locally affects reactive oxygen species metabolism. Furthermore, C4H inhibition primes cell wall modification and phenolic compound accumulation in response to root-knot nematode infection. Although PA treatment induces local accumulation of the phytohormone salicylic acid, the PA resistance phenotype is preserved in tomato plants expressing the salicylic acid-degrading NahG construct. Together, our results demonstrate that transient phenylpropanoid pathway perturbation is a conserved inducer of plant resistance and thus highlight the crucial regulatory role of this pathway in plant immunity.

Combining targeted metabolite analyses and transcriptomics to reveal the specific chemical composition and associated genes in the incompatible soybean variety PI437654 infected with soybean cyst nematode HG1.2.3.5.7.

BACKGROUND: Soybean cyst nematode, Heterodera glycines, is one of the most devastating pathogens of soybean and causes severe annual yield losses worldwide. Different soybean varieties exhibit different responses to H. glycines infection at various levels, such as the genomic, transcriptional, proteomic and metabolomic levels. However, there have not yet been any reports of the differential responses of incompatible and compatible soybean varieties infected with H. glycines based on combined metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses. RESULTS: In this study, the incompatible soybean variety PI437654 and three compatible soybean varieties, Williams 82, Zhonghuang 13 and Hefeng 47, were used to clarify the differences in metabolites and transcriptomics before and after the infection with HG1.2.3.5.7. A local metabolite-calibrated database was used to identify potentially differential metabolites, and the differences in metabolites and metabolic pathways were compared between the incompatible and compatible soybean varieties after inoculation with HG1.2.3.5.7. In total, 37 differential metabolites and 20 KEGG metabolic pathways were identified, which were divided into three categories: metabolites/pathways overlapped in the incompatible and compatible soybeans, and metabolites/pathways specific to either the incompatible or compatible soybean varieties. Twelve differential metabolites were found to be involved in predicted KEGG metabolite pathways. Moreover, 14 specific differential metabolites (such as significantly up-regulated nicotine and down-regulated D-aspartic acid) and their associated KEGG pathways (such as the tropane, piperidine and pyridine alkaloid biosynthesis, alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism and arginine biosynthesis) were significantly altered and abundantly enriched in the incompatible soybean variety PI437654, and likely played pivotal roles in defending against HG1.2.3.5.7 infection. Three key metabolites (N-acetyltranexamic acid, nicotine and D,L-tryptophan) found to be significantly up-regulated in the incompatible soybean variety PI437654 infected by HG1.2.3.5.7 were classified into two types and used for combined analyses with the transcriptomic expression profiling. Associated genes were predicted, along with the likely corresponding biological processes, cellular components, molecular functions and pathways. CONCLUSIONS: Our results not only identified potential novel metabolites and associated genes involved in the incompatible response of PI437654 to soybean cyst nematode HG1.2.3.5.7, but also provided new insights into the interactions between soybeans and soybean cyst nematodes.

Specific modulation of the root immune system by a community of commensal bacteria.

Plants have an innate immune system to fight off potential invaders that is based on the perception of nonself or modified-self molecules. Microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) are evolutionarily conserved microbial molecules whose extracellular detection by specific cell surface receptors initiates an array of biochemical responses collectively known as MAMP-triggered immunity (MTI). Well-characterized MAMPs include chitin, peptidoglycan, and flg22, a 22-amino acid epitope found in the major building block of the bacterial flagellum, FliC. The importance of MAMP detection by the plant immune system is underscored by the large diversity of strategies used by pathogens to interfere with MTI and that failure to do so is often associated with loss of virulence. Yet, whether or how MTI functions beyond pathogenic interactions is not well understood. Here we demonstrate that a community of root commensal bacteria modulates a specific and evolutionarily conserved sector of the Arabidopsis immune system. We identify a set of robust, taxonomically diverse MTI suppressor strains that are efficient root colonizers and, notably, can enhance the colonization capacity of other tested commensal bacteria. We highlight the importance of extracellular strategies for MTI suppression by showing that the type 2, not the type 3, secretion system is required for the immunomodulatory activity of one robust MTI suppressor. Our findings reveal that root colonization by commensals is controlled by MTI, which, in turn, can be selectively modulated by specific members of a representative bacterial root microbiota.

GmBTB/POZ promotes the ubiquitination and degradation of LHP1 to regulate the response of soybean to Phytophthora sojae.

Phytophthora sojae is a pathogen that causes stem and root rot in soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.). We previously demonstrated that GmBTB/POZ, a BTB/POZ domain-containing nuclear protein, enhances resistance to P. sojae in soybean, via a process that depends on salicylic acid (SA). Here, we demonstrate that GmBTB/POZ associates directly with soybean LIKE HETEROCHROMATIN PROTEIN1 (GmLHP1) in vitro and in vivo and promotes its ubiquitination and degradation. Both overexpression and RNA interference analysis of transgenic lines demonstrate that GmLHP1 negatively regulates the response of soybean to P. sojae by reducing SA levels and repressing GmPR1 expression. The WRKY transcription factor gene, GmWRKY40, a SA-induced gene in the SA signaling pathway, is targeted by GmLHP1, which represses its expression via at least two mechanisms (directly binding to its promoter and impairing SA accumulation). Furthermore, the nuclear localization of GmLHP1 is required for the GmLHP1-mediated negative regulation of immunity, SA levels and the suppression of GmWRKY40 expression. Finally, GmBTB/POZ releases GmLHP1-regulated GmWRKY40 suppression and increases resistance to P. sojae in GmLHP1-OE hairy roots. These findings uncover a regulatory mechanism by which GmBTB/POZ-GmLHP1 modulates resistance to P. sojae in soybean, likely by regulating the expression of downstream target gene GmWRKY40.

Potato cyst nematodes Globodera rostochiensis and G. pallida.

TAXONOMY: Phylum Nematoda; class Chromadorea; order Rhabditida; suborder Tylenchina; infraorder Tylenchomorpha; superfamily Tylenchoidea; family Heteroderidae; subfamily Heteroderinae; Genus Globodera. BIOLOGY: Potato cyst nematodes (PCN) are biotrophic, sedentary endoparasitic nematodes. Invasive (second) stage juveniles (J2) hatch from eggs in response to the presence of host root exudates and subsequently locate and invade the host. The nematodes induce the formation of a large, multinucleate syncytium in host roots, formed by fusion of up to 300 root cell protoplasts. The nematodes rely on this single syncytium for the nutrients required to develop through a further three moults to the adult male or female stage. This extended period of biotrophy-between 4 and 6 weeks in total-is almost unparalleled in plant-pathogen interactions. Females remain at the root while adult males revert to the vermiform body plan of the J2 and leave the root to locate and fertilize the female nematodes. The female body forms a cyst that contains the next generation of eggs. HOST RANGE: The host range of PCN is limited to plants of the Solanaceae family. While the most economically important hosts are potato (Solanum tuberosum), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), and aubergine (Solanum melongena), over 170 species of Solanaceae are thought to be potential hosts for PCN (Sullivan et al., 2007). DISEASE SYMPTOMS: Symptoms are similar to those associated with nutrient deficiency, such as stunted growth, yellowing of leaves and reduced yields. This absence of specific symptoms reduces awareness of the disease among growers. DISEASE CONTROL: Resistance genes (where available in suitable cultivars), application of nematicides, crop rotation. Great effort is put into reducing the spread of PCN through quarantine measures and use of certified seed stocks. USEFUL WEBSITES: Genomic information for PCN is accessible through WormBase ParaSite.