Pectin modifications promote haustoria development in the parasitic plant Phtheirospermum japonicum.

ABSTRACT: Parasitic plants are globally prevalent pathogens with important ecological functions but also potentially devastating agricultural consequences. Common to all parasites is the formation of the haustorium which requires parasite organ development and tissue invasion into the host. Both processes involve cell wall modifications. Here, we investigated a role for pectins during haustorium development in the facultative parasitic plant Phtheirospermum japonicum. Using transcriptomics data from infected Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) and rice (Oryza sativa), we identified genes for multiple P. japonicum pectin methylesterases (PMEs) and their inhibitors (PMEIs) whose expression was upregulated by haustoria formation. Changes in PME and PMEI expression were associated with tissue-specific mo

SUBMITTER: Leso M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10762509 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature