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Soil nutrient acquisition and exchanges through symbiotic plant-fungus interactions in the rhizosphere are key features for the current agricultural and environmental challenges. Improved crop yield and plant mineral nutrition through a fungal symbiont has been widely described. In return, the host plant supplies carbon substrates to its fungal partner. We review here recent progress on molecular players of membrane transport involved in nutritional exchanges between mycorrhizal plants and fungi. We cover the transportome, from the transport proteins involved in sugar fluxes from plants towards fungi, to the uptake from the soil and exchange of nitrogen, phosphate, potassium, sulfate, and water. Together, these advances in the comprehension of the mycorrhizal transportome will help in developing the future engineering of new agro-ecological systems., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Understanding the mechanisms that underlie nutrient use efficiency and carbon allocation along with mycorrhizal interactions is critical for managing croplands and forests soundly. Indeed, nutrient availability, uptake and exchange in biotrophic interactions drive plant growth and modulate biomass allocation. These parameters are crucial for plant yield, a major issue in the context of high biomass production. Transport processes across the polarized membrane interfaces are of major importance in the functioning of the established mycorrhizal association as the symbiotic relationship is based on a 'fair trade' between the fungus and the host plant. Nutrient and/or metabolite uptake and exchanges, at biotrophic interfaces, are controlled by membrane transporters whose regulation patterns are essential for determining the outcome of plant-fungus interactions and adapting to changes in soil nutrient quantity and/or quality. In the present review, we summarize the current state of the art regarding transport systems in the two major forms of mycorrhiza, namely ecto- and arbuscular mycorrhiza.

We assessed FM1-43 [N-(3-triethylammoniumpropyl)-4-(4-[dibutylamino]styryl)pyridinium dibromide] as a fluorescent endocytosis marker in intact, walled plant cells. At 4 degrees C, FM1-43 stained the plasma membrane, and after 30 to 120 min of incubation at 26 degrees C, FM1-43 labeled cytoplasmic vesicles and then the vacuole. Fluorimetric quantitation demonstrated dye uptake temperature sensitivity (approximately 65% reduction at 16 degrees C, >90% at 4 degrees C). FM1-43 uptake in suspension cells was stimulated more than twofold by brefeldin A and inhibited approximately 0.4-fold by wortmannin. FM1-43 delivery to the vacuole was largely inhibited by brefeldin A, although overall uptake was stimulated, and brefeldin A treatment caused the accumulation of large prevacuolar endosomal vesicles heavily labeled with FM1-43. Three-dimensional time lapse imaging revealed that FM1-43-labeled vacuoles and vesicles are highly dynamic. Thus, FM1-43 serves as a fluorescent marker for imaging and quantifying membrane endocytosis in intact plant cells.

Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.), one of the most important fruit crops, is a model plant for studying the physiology of fleshy fruits. Here, we report on the characterization of a new grapevine Shaker-type K+ channel, VvK5.1. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that VvK5.1 belongs to the SKOR-like subfamily. Our functional characterization of VvK5.1 in Xenopus oocytes confirms that it is an outwardly rectifying K+ channel that displays strict K+ selectivity. Gene expression level analyses by real-time quantitative PCR showed that VvK5.1 expression was detected in berries, roots, and flowers. In contrast to its Arabidopsis thaliana counterpart that is involved in K+ secretion in the root pericycle, allowing root to shoot K+ translocation, VvK5.1 expression territory is greatly enlarged. Using in situ hybridization we showed that VvK5.1 is expressed in the phloem and perivascular cells of berries and in flower pistil. In the root, in addition to being expressed in the root pericycle like AtSKOR, a strong expression of VvK5.1 is detected in small cells facing the xylem that are involved in lateral root formation. This fine and selective expression pattern of VvK5.1 at the early stage of lateral root primordia supports a role for outward channels to switch on cell division initiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The grape berry provides a model for investigating the physiology of non-climacteric fruits. Increased K+ accumulation in the berry has a strong negative impact on fruit acidity (and quality). In maturing berries, we identified a K+ channel from the Shaker family, Vv K1.2, and two CBL-interacting protein kinase ( CIPK)/calcineurin B-like calcium sensor ( CBL) pairs, Vv CIPK04- Vv CBL01 and Vv CIPK03- Vv CBL02, that may control the activity of this channel. Vv CBL01 and Vv CIPK04 are homologues of Arabidopsis AtCBL1 and AtCIPK23, respectively, which form a complex that controls the activity of the Shaker K+ channel AKT1 in Arabidopsis roots. Vv K1.2 remained electrically silent when expressed alone in Xenopus oocytes, but gave rise to K+ currents when co-expressed with the pairs Vv CIPK03-Vv CBL02 or Vv CIPK04- Vv CBL01, the second pair inducing much larger currents than the first one. Other tested CIPK- CBL pairs expressed in maturing berries were found to be unable to activate Vv K1.2. When activated by its CIPK- CBL partners, Vv K1.2 acts as a voltage-gated inwardly rectifying K+ channel that is activated at voltages more negative than -100 mV and is stimulated upon external acidification. This channel is specifically expressed in the berry, where it displays a very strong induction at veraison (the inception of ripening) in flesh cells, phloem tissues and perivascular cells surrounding vascular bundles. Its expression in these tissues is further greatly increased upon mild drought stress. Vv K1.2 is thus likely to mediate rapid K+ transport in the berry and to contribute to the extensive re-organization of the translocation pathways and transport mechanisms that occurs at veraison. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Membrane transport systems are crucial elements for plant nutrition and development as they play a key role in the absorption of mineral nutrients and water at the root level but also in the translocation within the plant. Moreover, membrane transport is involved in signalling and communication e.g. to adapt and interact with the environment. Most plants live in tight contact with beneficial soil microbes, such as bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi, which contribute to plant nutrition in part through modulation of the expression and functioning of plant transporter systems, as ion channels and transporters. In addition, mycorrhizal fungi largely increase the absorption surface of roots thereby promoting plant's access to soil resources as minerals and water. In turn, plants "reward" mycorrhizal fungi with sugars and/or lipids. This "fair trade" requires specific communication and a series of exchanges between the two symbiotic partners enabled by the adaptability and plasticity of their transporters. Here, we summarize recent advances allowing molecular insight in the impact of mycorrhizal symbiosis on the plant "transportome". We highlight results obtained in ecto- and endomycorrhizal associations for plant transporters involved in the absorption of mineral nutrients and water released by the fungus at the symbiotic interface, and molecular players responsible for carbon and lipid nutrition of the fungal partner. We focus also on plant membrane transport systems implicated in early communication between plant and fungal partners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]