Root microbiota drive direct integration of phosphate stress and immunity

Many of the genes involved in the phosphate-stress response (PSR) have been identified from plants growing on sterile medium.  Castrillo et al. examined how the root microbiota affectthe phosphate stress response, and how phosphate affects the association between roots and microbes.  Plants deficient in the PSR failed to assemble wild-type microbiota, indicating that the PSR influences the composition of root microbiota. Furthermore, the transcription factor PHR1, a master regulator of PSR, also regulates several plant immune system genes. These findings provide new insight into the intersection between nutritional stress responses, immunity, and microbiota assembly and maintenance. Nature 10.1038/nature21417