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Salinity is an increasing problem in coastal areas affected by saltwater intrusion, with deleterious effects on tree health and forest growth. Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi may improve the salinity tolerance of host trees, but the impact of external potassium (K+) availability on these effects is still unclear. Here, we performed several experiments with the ECM fungus Paxillus ammoniavirescens and loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) in axenic and symbiotic conditions at limited or sufficient K+ and increasing sodium (Na+) concentrations. Growth rate, biomass, nutrient content, and K+ transporter expression levels were recorded for the fungus, and the colonization rate, root development parameters, biomass, and shoot nutrient accumulation were determined for mycorrhizal and non‐mycorrhizal plants. P. ammoniavirescens was tolerant to high salinity, although growth and nutrient concentrations varied with K+ availability and increasing Na+ exposure. While loblolly pine root growth and development decreased with increasing salinity, ECM colonization was unaffected by pine response to salinity. The mycorrhizal influence on loblolly pine salinity response was strongly dependent on external K+ availability. This study reveals that P. ammoniavirescens can reduce Na+ accumulation of salt‐exposed loblolly pine, but this effect depends on external K+ availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is a Commentary on Vigneaud et al. (2023), 238: 2561–2577. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Ectomycorrhizal fungi play an essential role in the ecology of boreal and temperate forests through the improvement of tree mineral nutrition. Potassium (K+) is an essential nutrient for plants and is needed in high amounts. We recently demonstrated that the ectomycorrhizal fungus Hebeloma cylindrosporum improves the K+ nutrition of Pinus pinaster under shortage conditions. Part of the transport systems involved in K+ uptake by the fungus has been deciphered, while the molecular players responsible for the transfer of this cation towards the plant remain totally unknown. Analysis of the genome of H. cylindrosporum revealed the presence of three putative tandem‐pore outward‐rectifying K+ (TOK) channels that could contribute to this transfer. Here, we report the functional characterization of these three channels through two‐electrode voltage‐clamp experiments in oocytes and yeast complementation assays. The expression pattern and physiological role of these channels were analysed in symbiotic interaction with P. pinaster. Pine seedlings colonized by fungal transformants overexpressing two of them displayed a larger accumulation of K+ in shoots. This study revealed that TOK channels have distinctive properties and functions in axenic and symbiotic conditions and suggested that HcTOK2.2 is implicated in the symbiotic transfer of K+ from the fungus towards the plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycorrhizal associations are known to improve the hydro-mineral nutrition of their host plants. However, the importance of mycorrhizal symbiosis for plant potassium nutrition has so far been poorly studied. We therefore investigated the impact of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Hebeloma cylindrosporum on the potassium nutrition of Pinus pinaster and examined the involvement of the fungal potassium transporter Hc Trk1., Hc Trk1 transcripts and proteins were localized in ectomycorrhizas using in situ hybridization and EGFP translational fusion constructs. Importantly, an overexpression strategy was performed on a H. cylindrosporum endogenous gene in order to dissect the role of this transporter., The potassium nutrition of mycorrhizal pine plants was significantly improved under potassium-limiting conditions. Fungal strains overexpressing Hc Trk1 reduced the translocation of potassium and phosphorus from the roots to the shoots of inoculated plants in mycorrhizal experiments. Furthermore, expression of Hc Trk1 and the phosphate transporter Hc PT1.1 were reciprocally linked to the external inorganic phosphate and potassium availability., The development of these approaches provides a deeper insight into the role of ectomycorrhizal symbiosis on host plant K+ nutrition and in particular, the K+ transporter Hc Trk1. The work augments our knowledge of the link between potassium and phosphorus nutrition via the mycorrhizal pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ectomycorrhizal symbiosis between fungi and woody plants strongly improves plant mineral nutrition and constitutes a major biological process in natural ecosystems. Molecular identification and functional characterization of fungal transport systems involved in nutrient uptake are crucial steps toward understanding the improvement of plant nutrition and the symbiotic relationship itself. In the present report a transporter belonging to the Trk family is identified in the model ectomycorrhizal fungus Hebeloma cylindrosporum and named HcTrk1. The Trk family is still poorly characterized, although it plays crucial roles in K+ transport in yeasts and filamentous fungi. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae K+ uptake is mainly dependent on the activity of Trk transporters thought to mediate H+:K+ symport. The ectomycorrhizal HcTrk1 transporter was functional when expressed in Xenopus oocytes, enabling the first electrophysiological characterization of a transporter from the Trk family. HcTrk1 mediates instantaneously activating inwardly rectifying currents, is permeable to both K+ and Na+, and displays channel-like functional properties. The whole set of data and particularly a phenomenon reminiscent of the anomalous mole fraction effect suggest that the transport does not occur according to the classical alternating access model. Permeation appears to occur through a single-file pore, where interactions between Na+ and K+ might result in Na+:K+ co-transport activity. HcTrk1 is expressed in external hyphae that explore the soil when the fungus grows in symbiotic condition. Thus, it could play a major role in both the K+ and Na+ nutrition of the fungus (and of the plant) in nutrient-poor soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Constraints on plant growth imposed by low availability of nitrogen are a characteristic feature of ecosystems dominated by ectomycorrhizal plants. Ectomycorrhizal fungi play a key role in the N nutrition of plants, allowing their host plants to access decomposition products of dead plant and animal materials. Ectomycorrhizal plants are thus able to compensate for the low availability of inorganic N in forest ecosystems. • The capacity to take up peptides, as well as the transport mechanisms involved, were analysed in the ectomycorrhizal fungus Hebeloma cylindrosporum. • The present study demonstrated that H. cylindrosporum mycelium was able to take up di- and tripeptides and use them as sole N source. Two peptide transporters (HcPTR2A and B) were isolated by yeast functional complementation using an H. cylindrosporum cDNA library, and were shown to mediate dipeptide uptake. • Uptake capacities and expression regulation of both genes were analysed, indicating that HcPTR2A was involved in the high-efficiency peptide uptake under conditions of limited N availability, whereas HcPTR2B was expressed constitutively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• In an attempt to advance the understanding of ectomycorrhizal symbiosis, which improves mineral nutrition and resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses of most woody plants from temperate and boreal regions, we produced a cDNA library of the ectomycorrhizal fungusHebeloma cylindrosporumin a yeast expression vector. The library was used for functional complementation cloning and for sequencing of 4036 expressed sequence tags (ESTs).• Expression of the library in a yeastade2andtrp1mutant strain allowed cloning of twoHebelomagenes,HcADE2andHcTRP1by functional complementation. This experiment highlighted both the efficiency of the complementation strategy and the quality of the library.• All sequence data available onHebeloma(4596) were analysed and contiged. The whole EST resource is accessibleviaa web interface, which allows searching and navigation through clusters and tentative contigs (TCs).• Analysis of the database revealed a low level of counterparts already identified in other ectomycorrhizal fungi. For example, it allowed identification of a large set of membrane transporters, such as phosphate, potassium, sulphate or micronutrient transporters. Thus, this EST resource provides a valuable tool for research on ectomycorrhiza and symbiotic interactions.New Phytologist(2004)doi: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2004.01185.x© New Phytologist(2004) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Expression and localization of the fungal Pi transporter HcPT1.1 were analyzed. [•] Fungal lines expressing EGFP under control of the HcPT1.1 promoter were produced. [•] Pi deprivation-dependent expression of HcPT1.1 is mediated by its promoter activity. [•] Localization of HcPT1.1 was found in ectomycorrhizae by in situ hybridization. [•] HcPT1.1-specific antibodies detect the phosphate transporter in ectomycorrhizae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]