Nitrogen-fixing symbiosis induces differential accumulation of <i>Medicago truncatula</i> leaf defence metabolites in response to pea aphid infestation.

ABSTRACT: Legume symbiosis with rhizobial nitrogen-fixing bacteria enables legumes to grow in nitrate-depleted soils. Rhizobial symbioses also induce systemic plant defence against bioaggressors. We investigated how nitrogen-fixing symbiosis (NFS) in the legume Medicago truncatula can prime plant defence against the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum. We analysed metabolite modification using both gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and defence pathway gene expression using qPCR in the leaves of both NFS and nitrate-fed [non-inoculated (NI)] plants after aphid infestation (Amp). The accumulation of primary and secondary metabolites was modulated by both NFS and aphid infestation. Sixty-two defence-related metabolites, such as sali

SUBMITTER: Benjamin G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12675435 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature