Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1093/treephys/tpab102
Licence creative commons licence
Title (Primary) The meristem-associated endosymbiont Methylorubrum extorquens DSM13060 reprograms development and stress responses of pine seedlings
Author Koskimäki, J.J.; Pohjanen, J.; Kvist, J.; Fester, T.; Härtig, C.; Podolich, O.; Fluch, S.; Edesi, J.; Häggman, H.; Pirttilä, A.M.
Source Titel Tree Physiology
Year 2022
Department UMB
Volume 42
Issue 2
Page From 391
Page To 410
Language englisch
Topic T7 Bioeconomy
Supplements https://oup.silverchair-cdn.com/oup/backfile/Content_public/Journal/treephys/42/2/10.1093_treephys_tpab102/1/tables1_koskimakietal_tpab102.pdf?Expires=1659097319&Signature=4jZAJCCWgnOyr9yoww15c9IC7F2WT3ytAe1QQWmu7J3VgVI~PmEuH7fQ~HXx-u217DjMb2LSWx6Uc6U2-5g9pVBGyfLOiNkxzGkSwbkix~h99LHLntB~hb15toU0OwROO-EgOVpOLU3bRwrtmknOn9G0BNl2VStVk8W35XsfFyIgjeccyXSMU0px-aBxNZgTqTfaE0wej2ZOqBf1VjZFiMRdv2Nd2y2bZka66azqIXKEomOvXaG1t-itUplJ~JiAhQ9TqWNfb16VkQZXXxtFlyFcSdRM1n9vTugDGniC2vKw5rgzMQex8asU67EtrQbRgE5BLMvbjtNKmaa~d6sgTg__&Key-Pair-Id=APKAIE5G5CRDK6RD3PGA
Keywords intracellular; metabolism; plant-microbe interactions; symbiosis; transcription network
Abstract Microbes living in plant tissues—endophytes—are mainly studied in crop plants where they typically colonize the root apoplast. Trees—a large carbon source with a high capacity for photosynthesis—provide a variety of niches for endophytic colonization. We have earlier identified a new type of plant–endophyte interaction in buds of adult Scots pine, where Methylorubrum species live inside the meristematic cells. The endosymbiont Methylorubrum extorquens DSM13060 significantly increases needle and root growth of pine seedlings without producing plant hormones, but by aggregating around host nuclei. Here, we studied gene expression and metabolites of the pine host induced by M. extorquens DSM13060 infection. Malic acid was produced by pine to potentially boost M. extorquens colonization and interaction. Based on gene expression, the endosymbiont activated the auxin- and ethylene (ET)-associated hormonal pathways through induction of CUL1 and HYL1, and suppressed salicylic and abscisic acid signaling of pine. Infection by the endosymbiont had an effect on pine meristem and leaf development through activation of GLP1-7 and ALE2, and suppressed flowering, root hair and lateral root formation by downregulation of AGL8, plantacyanin, GASA7, COW1 and RALFL34. Despite of systemic infection of pine seedlings by the endosymbiont, the pine genes CUL1, ETR2, ERF3, HYL, GLP1-7 and CYP71 were highly expressed in the shoot apical meristem, rarely in needles and not in stem or root tissues. Low expression of MERI5, CLH2, EULS3 and high quantities of ononitol suggest that endosymbiont promotes viability and protects pine seedlings against abiotic stress. Our results indicate that the endosymbiont positively affects host development and stress tolerance through mechanisms previously unknown for endophytic bacteria, manipulation of plant hormone signaling pathways, downregulation of senescence and cell death-associated genes and induction of ononitol biosynthesis.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=26270
Koskimäki, J.J., Pohjanen, J., Kvist, J., Fester, T., Härtig, C., Podolich, O., Fluch, S., Edesi, J., Häggman, H., Pirttilä, A.M. (2022):
The meristem-associated endosymbiont Methylorubrum extorquens DSM13060 reprograms development and stress responses of pine seedlings
Tree Physiol. 42 (2), 391 - 410 10.1093/treephys/tpab102