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Control of root nodule formation ensures sufficient shoot water availability in Lotus japonicus.
- Source :
-
Plant physiology [Plant Physiol] 2024 Jul 31; Vol. 195 (4), pp. 2542-2550. - Publication Year :
- 2024
-
Abstract
- Leguminous plants provide carbon to symbiotic rhizobia in root nodules to fuel the energy-consuming process of nitrogen fixation. The carbon investment pattern from the acquired sources is crucial for shaping the growth regime of the host plants. The autoregulation of nodulation (AON) signaling pathway tightly regulates the number of nodules that form. AON disruption leads to excessive nodule formation and stunted shoot growth. However, the physiological role of AON in adjusting the carbon investment pattern is unknown. Here, we show that AON plays an important role in sustaining shoot water availability, which is essential for promoting carbon investment in shoot growth in Lotus japonicus. We found that AON-defective mutants exhibit substantial accumulation of nonstructural carbohydrates, such as sucrose. Consistent with this metabolic signature, resilience against water-deficit stress was enhanced in the shoots of the AON-defective mutants. Furthermore, the water uptake ability was attenuated in the AON-defective mutants, likely due to the increased ratio of nodulation zone, which is covered with hydrophobic surfaces, on the roots. These results increase our physiological understanding of legume-rhizobia symbiosis by revealing a trade-off between root nodule formation and shoot water availability.<br />Competing Interests: Conflict of interest statement. None declared.<br /> (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of American Society of Plant Biologists. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our siteāfor further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)
- Subjects :
- Plant Root Nodulation
Mutation genetics
Symbiosis physiology
Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
Plant Proteins metabolism
Plant Proteins genetics
Carbon metabolism
Plant Roots metabolism
Plant Roots growth & development
Plant Roots microbiology
Nitrogen Fixation
Lotus genetics
Lotus metabolism
Lotus growth & development
Lotus microbiology
Water metabolism
Root Nodules, Plant metabolism
Root Nodules, Plant growth & development
Root Nodules, Plant genetics
Plant Shoots metabolism
Plant Shoots growth & development
Plant Shoots genetics
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1532-2548
- Volume :
- 195
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Plant physiology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 38438136
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiae126