Phytohormones in plant root-Piriformospora indica mutualism
Patrick Schäfer, Stefanie Pfiffi, Lars M. Voll, Doreen Zajic, Peter M. Chandler, Frank Waller, Uwe Scholz, Jörn Pons-Kühnemann, Sophia Sonnewald, Uwe Sonnewald and Karl-Heinz Kogel
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Piriformospora indica is a mutualistic root-colonising basidiomycete that tranfers various benefits to colonized host plants including growth promotion, yield increases as well as abiotic and biotic stress tolerance. The fungus is characterized by a broad host spectrum encompassing various monocots and dicots.1,2 Our recent microarray-based studies indicate a general plant defense suppression by P. indica and significant changes in the GA biosynthesis pathway.3 Furthermore, barley plants impaired in GA synthesis and perception showed a significant reduction in mutualistic colonization, which was associated with an elevated expression of defense-related genes. Here, we discuss the importance of plant hormones for compatibility in plant root-P. indica associations. Our data might provide a first explanation for the colonization success of the fungus in a wide range of higher plants.
Addendum to: Schäfer P, Pfiffi S, Voll LM, Zajic D, Chandler PM, Waller F, Scholz U, Pons-Kühnemann J, Sonnewald S, Sonnewald U, Kogel KH. Manipulation of plant innate immunity and gibberellin as factor of compatibility in the mutualistic association of barley roots with Piriformospora indica. Plant J 2009; In press; PMID: 19392709; DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-313X.2009.03887.x.