Dicer-like proteins influence Arabidopsis root microbiota independent of RNA-directed DNA methylation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Plants are naturally associated with root microbiota, which are microbial communities influential to host fitness. Thus, it is important to understand how plants control root microbiota. Epigenetic factors regulate the readouts of genetic information and consequently many essential biological processes. However, it has been elusive whether RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) affects root microbiota assembly.

Results

By applying 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we investigated root microbiota of Arabidopsis mutants defective in the canonical RdDM pathway, including dcl234 that harbors triple mutation in the Dicer-like proteins DCL3, DCL2, and DCL4, which produce small RNAs for RdDM. Alpha diversity analysis showed reductions in microbe richness from the soil to roots, ref

SUBMITTER: Kaushal R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7913254 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature