ORCID Profile
0000-0002-7384-5181
Current Organisation
ESR Christchurch Science Centre
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Publisher: Wiley
Date: 30-01-2018
DOI: 10.1111/PPA.12812
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 25-08-2015
DOI: 10.1111/NPH.13614
Abstract: Beneficial associations between plants and microbes play an important role in both natural and agricultural ecosystems. For ex le, associations between fungi of the genus Epichloë , and cool‐season grasses are known for their ability to increase resistance to insect pests, fungal pathogens and drought. However, little is known about the molecular changes induced by endophyte infection. To study the impact of endophyte infection, we compared the expression profiles, based on RNA sequencing, of perennial ryegrass infected with Epichloë festucae with noninfected plants. We show that infection causes dramatic changes in the expression of over one third of host genes. This is in stark contrast to mycorrhizal associations, where substantially fewer changes in host gene expression are observed, and is more similar to pathogenic interactions. We reveal that endophyte infection triggers reprogramming of host metabolism, favouring secondary metabolism at a cost to primary metabolism. Infection also induces changes in host development, particularly trichome formation and cell wall biogenesis. Importantly, this work sheds light on the mechanisms underlying enhanced resistance to drought and super‐infection by fungal pathogens provided by fungal endophyte infection. Finally, our study reveals that not all beneficial plant–microbe associations behave the same in terms of their effects on the host.
Publisher: Scientific Societies
Date: 03-2015
DOI: 10.1094/MPMI-09-14-0293-FI
Abstract: Beneficial plant–fungal interactions play an important role in the ability of plants to survive changing environmental conditions. In contrast, phytopathogenic fungi fall at the opposite end of the symbiotic spectrum, causing reduced host growth or even death. In order to exploit beneficial interactions and prevent pathogenic ones, it is essential to understand the molecular differences underlying these alternative states. The association between the endophyte Epichloë festucae and Lolium perenne (perennial ryegrass) is an excellent system for studying these molecular patterns due to the existence of several fungal mutants that have an antagonistic rather than a mutualistic interaction with the host plant. By comparing gene expression in a wild-type beneficial association with three mutant antagonistic associations disrupted in key signaling genes, we identified a core set of 182 genes that show common differential expression patterns between these two states. These gene expression changes are indicative of a nutrient-starvation response, as supported by the upregulation of genes encoding degradative enzymes, transporters, and primary metabolism, and downregulation of genes encoding putative small-secreted proteins and secondary metabolism. These results suggest that disruption of a mutualistic symbiotic interaction may lead to an elevated uptake and degradation of host-derived nutrients and cell-wall components, reminiscent of phytopathogenic interactions.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 04-2019
DOI: 10.1111/MPP.12791
No related grants have been discovered for Pierre-Yves Dupont.