University of Toronto researchers have cracked the code of plant-to-fungi communication in a brand new study published within the journal
Using baker's yeast, the researchers discovered that the plant hormone strigolactone (SL) prompts fungal genes and proteins related to phosphate metabolism, a system that is vital to growth.
This insight into how fungi reply to chemical signals on the molecular level may lead to latest strategies for cultivating hardier crops and fighting disease-causing fungi.
“As we begin to understand how plants and fungi interact, we will better understand the complexities of soil ecosystems, leading to healthier crops and our approach to biodiversity. will be optimized,” says Shelley Lumba, lead creator and assistant professor within the Department of Cell. in Systems Biology on the University of Toronto.
In soil, plant roots engage with fungi in a silent molecular “language” to direct their structure. When plants release SLs, they signal fungi to connect to their roots, providing phosphates — the fuel plants have to grow, and a key component of most fertilizers — in exchange for carbon. i
For the study, Lumba and his fellow researchers investigated why and the way the cookie responds to SLs. Eighty percent of plants depend on this symbiotic relationship, and enhancing this interaction with helpful fungi can lead to stronger crops, lower fertilizer use, and reduce phosphate runoff into waterways. can
In other cases, disease-causing fungi may use chemical cues to contaminate crops, sometimes wiping out entire crops. Understanding this chemical language might also help prevent such pathogens.
Because of the complexity of soil ecosystems, scientists haven't yet been in a position to discover the particular chemicals that stimulate helpful fungi, or the consequences of those signals. Lumba and his team cracked the code with baker's yeast, a quiet fungus that humans have cultivated for hundreds of years. Simple modern strain methods make them suitable for the lab.
The researchers treated yeast with SL and observed which genes were turned on and off in response. They found that this chemical signal increased the expression of genes labeled “PHO” which are related to phosphate metabolism. Further evaluation showed that SLs act through Pho84, a protein on the surface of yeast that monitors phosphate levels, activating a cascade of other proteins within the phosphate pathway.
The researchers determined that plants release SL after they are starved of phosphate, which signals the yeast to change its phosphate intake.
They found that the response of phosphate to the SL signal is true not just for domesticated fungi equivalent to baker's yeast but in addition for wild fungi, particularly wheat deleterious and helpful symbiotic fungi.
“Gene expression as a byproduct of chemical treatment is key to this approach — it identifies the effect of SL responses on fungal growth.” Lumba says.
Scientists can use this straightforward method to systematically discover plant-derived small molecules that interact with fungi. Enhancing interactions with helpful fungi can result in improvements in agriculture and reduce pollution and food insecurity.
“The potential impact of this research could improve the lives of many people,” Loomba says. “It's about healthy soil for a healthy planet.”