Project description:RNASeq of roots from two genotypes of Arabidopsis thaliana plants, Col-0 and myb36-2 grown axenically or with a 41 member bacterial Synthetic Community (SynCom) to explore the interaction between the root diffusion barriers and the root microbiome.
Project description:It has been performed a genome-wide analysis of gene expression of the root-colonizing bacterium Pseudomonas putida KT2440 in the rhizosphere of corn (Zea mays var. Girona. To identify reliable rhizosphere differentially expressed genes, rhizosphere populations of P. putida bacteria cells were compared with three alternative controls: i) planktonic cells growing exponentially in rich medium (LB), ii) planktonic cells in stationary phase in LB, and iii) sessile populations established in sand microcosms, under the same conditions used to grow inoculated corn plants.
Project description:Insect pathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana in one of the best studied insect biocontrol fungus, which infects insects by cuticle penetration. After breaking the cuticles, the fungus will propagate in insect hemocoel and kill insect hosts. It has also been found that the mycelia of B. bassiana can penetrate plant tissues to reach insect inside plant, e.g. corn borer (Ostrinia furnacalis), but do not cause damage to plants. The mechanism of fungal physiological plasticity is poorly understood. To accompany our genome sequencing work of B. bassiana strain ARSEF 2860, fungal transcriptional responses to different niches were studied using an Illumina RNA_seq technique. To examine fungal response to insect cuticle, conidia were inoculated on locust hind wings for 24 hours before used for RNA extraction. To evaluate fungal adaptation to insect hemocole, the fifth instar larvae of cotton bollworms were injected with spore suspension and fungal cells isolated by centrifugation in a step gradient buffer. To unveil the mechanism of interaction with plants, the fungus was grown in corn root exudates for 24 hours. After RNA sequencing, around three million tags were acquired for each sample and fungal transcriptional profiles were compared. Unveiling gene differential expression patterns when the insect biocontrol fungus Beauveria bassiana grown in insect hemocoel, corn root exudates and on insect cuticles.
Project description:This study was designed to identify changes in gene expression that occur when corn was grown on different landscape features. Specifically on the backslope or summit/shoulder of a hill. In rolling landscapes, plant available water varies drastically by location and soil type. Almost simultaneously, plants may be flooded out in footslope locations whereas plants in summit locations may be suffering from severe drought. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of landscape position on corn (Zea mays) productivity and gene regulation. Corn was sampled at V12 for plant growth characteristics and transcriptome analysis at summit/shoulder and lower backslope positions. Plants at the summit had 16% less leaf area and biomass compared with plants at the toeslope. Gene expression analysis using microarray chips, transcriptome analysis, and qPCR indicated that plants at the summit had 708 genes down-regulated and 399 genes up-regulated compared to control plants at the lower back slope. GSEA (Gene Set Enrichment Analysis) indicated tolerance to cold, salt, and drying were increased in summit/should plants compared to control toeslope plants. However, nutrient uptake, recovery from wounding, pest and fungal disease resistance, along with photosynthetic capacity were all down-regulated in moderate water stresses plants. These responses suggest that corn preferentially responses to water stress as the expense of its ability to respond to other stresses.
Project description:Various microbes isolated from healthy plants are detrimental under laboratory conditions, indicating the existence of molecular mechanisms preventing disease in nature. Here, we demonstrated that application of sodium chloride (NaCl) in natural and gnotobiotic soil systems is needed to induce plant disease caused by an otherwise non-pathogenic root-derived Pseudomonas brassicacearum isolate (R401). Disease caused by combinatorial treatment of NaCl and R401 triggered extensive, root-specific transcriptional reprogramming that did not involve down-regulation of host innate immune genes, nor dampening of ROS-mediated immunity. Instead, we identified and structurally characterized the R401 lipopeptide brassicapeptin A as necessary and sufficient to promote disease on salt-treated plants. Brassicapeptin A production transitions R401 from being beneficial to being detrimental on salt-treated plants by disturbing host ion homeostasis, thereby bolstering bacterial infection and susceptibility to osmolytes. We conclude that the interaction between a global change stressor and a bacterial exometabolite drives disease emergence in the plant microbiome.
Project description:Flavonoids are stress-inducible metabolites important for plant-microbe interactions. In contrast to their well-known function in initiating rhizobia nodulation in legumes, it is unclear whether and how flavonoids may contribute to plant stress resistance through affecting non-nodulating bacteria in the root microbiome. Here we show how flavonoids preferentially attracts Aeromonadaceae in Arabidopsis thaliana root microbiome and how flavonoid-dependent recruitment of an Aeromona spp. results in enhanced plant drought resistance.
Project description:Flavonoids are stress-inducible metabolites important for plant-microbe interactions. In contrast to their well-known function in initiating rhizobia nodulation in legumes, it is unclear whether and how flavonoids may contribute to plant stress resistance through affecting non-nodulating bacteria in the root microbiome. Here we show how flavonoids preferentially attracts Aeromonadaceae in Arabidopsis thaliana root microbiome and how flavonoid-dependent recruitment of an Aeromona spp. results in enhanced plant Na_H1 resistance.
Project description:Insect pathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana in one of the best studied insect biocontrol fungus, which infects insects by cuticle penetration. After breaking the cuticles, the fungus will propagate in insect hemocoel and kill insect hosts. It has also been found that the mycelia of B. bassiana can penetrate plant tissues to reach insect inside plant, e.g. corn borer (Ostrinia furnacalis), but do not cause damage to plants. The mechanism of fungal physiological plasticity is poorly understood. To accompany our genome sequencing work of B. bassiana strain ARSEF 2860, fungal transcriptional responses to different niches were studied using an Illumina RNA_seq technique. To examine fungal response to insect cuticle, conidia were inoculated on locust hind wings for 24 hours before used for RNA extraction. To evaluate fungal adaptation to insect hemocole, the fifth instar larvae of cotton bollworms were injected with spore suspension and fungal cells isolated by centrifugation in a step gradient buffer. To unveil the mechanism of interaction with plants, the fungus was grown in corn root exudates for 24 hours. After RNA sequencing, around three million tags were acquired for each sample and fungal transcriptional profiles were compared.