Review: Apoplastic signaling during arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis
Plant Science Research WeeklyPlants rely on microbes to aid their uptake of nutrients. Most plants from an intimate association with mycorrhizal fungi, in which both partners benefit through the exchange of nutrients and photosynthate. In the most common form, arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis, the fungus forms branched structures…
Conserved symbiont-induced actin reorganization in legumes and non-legumes
Plant Science Research WeeklyRhizobial symbiosis requires communication and recognition between the plant host and the nitrogen-fixing bacteria. When successful, plant root hairs reorganize their membranes and form specialized infection threads through which the rhizobia enter the root and initiate nodules. In new work, Qiao et…
Genomic analysis of a lichen photobiont alga
Plant Science Research WeeklyLichens are complex assemblies that are composed of at least two organisms, a fungus (the mycobiont) and a photosynthetic partner, the photobiont. Lichen lifestyles have emerged several times, and the photobiont can be either prokaryotic cyanobacteria or eukaryotic algae. Recently, Tagirdzhanova et al.…
New tools to study an old mycorrhiza
Plant Science Research WeeklyI love learning about the many molecular adaptations that allowed plants to adapt to life on land, and particularly have enjoyed sharing the iconic micrograph from Remy et al (1994) that shows a 400 year old arbuscular mycorrhiza of the fungus Glomeromycotina inside a cell of Aglaophyton major. Now,…
The sweet connection between plants, fungi, and soil life
Plant Science Research WeeklyThrough their roots, plants live in close association with many soil microorganisms, including fungi and bacteria that help them grow. Beneficial fungi help plants cope with stress, and in return, the plants provide them with nutrients. A key part of this exchange is the movement of sucrose, a sugar…
Bidirectional root-shoot signaling via CCR1 regulates cluster root and nodule development in legumes
Plant Science Research WeeklyLegume plants are renowned for their ability to form symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria (rhizobia) in specialized root tissues called nodules. This symbiosis enables the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, a form of nitrogen that plants can readily use for growth. This…
Uncovering the kinase switch to coordinate symbiosis and immunity
Plant Science Research WeeklyBiological nitrogen fixation is a vital natural process that converts atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms, enabling its assimilation into essential biomolecules such as amino acids and nucleic acids. This unique capability is primarily carried out by specialized microbes, often through their…
The hidden architecture of symbiosis: Casparian strips in root and nodule integration
Plant Science Research WeeklyThe Casparian strip (CS), a lignin-rich apoplastic barrier in the root endodermis, forms early in development and regulates solute flow between the soil and the vasculature. It allows plants to control ion uptake, defend against pathogens, and coordinate developmental signals. While its functions in…
Symbiotic secrets: A multi-omics exploration of the lichen Xanthoria parietina
Plant Science Research WeeklyLichens are complex symbiotic organisms formed by algae or cyanobacteria living within the filaments of multiple fungal species. This unique partnership, which is both stable and self-replicating across generations, represents one of the most successful lifestyle strategies in the biological world. Lichens…