Project description:The model Zn hyperaccumulators Arabidopsis halleri and Noccaea caerulescens share elevated nicotianamine synthase (NAS) expression relative to non-accumulators among a core of alterations in metal homeostasis gene expression. Suppression of AhNAS2 expression by RNAi resulted in strongly reduced root NA accumulation and a concomitant decrease in root-to-shoot-translocation of Zn but not of other micronutrients. Few secondary effects on the root transcriptome were detected by microarray analysis. Vegetatively propagated clones of A. halleri wildtype plants and a line with strong suppression of AhNAS2 were grown hydroponically for weeks in two different media (control Hoagland and 10 µM Zn2+ added). Roots were harvested and analyzed. Three plants were pooled for one sample. Three independent experiments were performed.
Project description:A pseudometallophyte Arabidopsis halleri is frequently found to be infected with cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) in its natural habitat. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the effect of CMV infection on its natural hosts. The CMV(Ho) strain isolated from A. halleri was inoculated into clonal A. halleri plants that were obtained from runners of mother plants, and the pathosystem consisting of CMV(Ho) and its natural host A. halleri was established.In low heavy metal environment, the CMV(Ho) infection caused growth retardation in the above-ground part (stems and leaves) of host plants, and thereby conferred strong drought tolerance on host plants. On the other hand, in high heavy metal environment, which simulates a natural habitat for A halleri, the CMV(Ho) infection did not cause any symptoms to host plants and conferred mild drought tolerance. And the result of transcriptome analysis suggests that CMV(Ho) is recognized as a symbiont rather than a pathogen by its host plant. These results indicate a resilient mutualistic interaction between CMV(Ho) and its natural host A. halleri to adapt to an environmental change.