Inhibition of shoot branching by new terpenoid plant hormones

Petunia hybrida CAROTENOID CLEAVAGE DIOXYGENASE7 is involved in the production of negative and positive branching signals in petunia

One of the key factors that defines plant form is the regulation of when and where branches develop. The diversity of form observed in nature results, in part, from variation in the regulation of branching between species. Two CAROTENOID CLEAVAGE DIOXYGENASE (CCD) genes, CCD7 and CCD8, are required for the production of a branch-suppressing plant hormone. Here, we report that the decreased apical dominance3 (dad3) mutant of petunia (Petunia hybrida) results from the mutation of the PhCCD7 gene and has a less severe branching phenotype than mutation of PhCCD8 (dad1). An analysis of the expression of this gene in wild-type, mutant, and grafted petunia suggests that in petunia, CCD7 and CCD8 are coordinately regulated. In contrast to observations in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), ccd7ccd8 double mutants in petunia show an additive phenotype. An analysis using dad3 or dad1 mutant scions grafted to wild-type rootstocks showed that when these plants produce adventitious mutant roots, branching is increased above that seen in plants where the mutant roots are removed. The results presented here indicate that mutation of either CCD7 or CCD8 in petunia results in both the loss of an inhibitor of branching and an increase in a promoter of branching.

Auxin as compère in plant hormone crosstalk

The architecture of many hormone perceptions and signalling pathways has been recently well established, together with an awareness that plant hormone responses are the product of networks of interactions involving multiple hormones. As growth is quantitative, so are hormone responses, which underlie a systems approach to development and response. Auxin is arguably one of the best characterised hormones in plant development, and despite many excellent reviews on auxin perception, polar transport, and signal transduction, too little attention has been given to auxin crosstalk. This review, therefore, gives a précis of recent developments in hormone crosstalk involving auxin. For decades, the literature has described the involvement of multiple hormones in particular processes, although the mechanistic bases underlying points of crosstalk have been harder to pinpoint. Crosstalk falls into different categories, such as direct, indirect, or co-regulation. One conclusion for auxin crosstalk is that crosstalk operates extensively via the metabolism of other hormones, however, microarray approaches are increasingly identifying co-regulated genes and nodes of crosstalk at shared signalling components. Auxin crosstalk is often local, and is spatially and temporally regulated to provide adaptive value to environmental conditions and fine-tuning of responses.

Feedback-regulation of strigolactone biosynthetic genes and strigolactone-regulated genes in Arabidopsis

Strigolactones (SLs) have recently been found to regulate shoot branching, but the functions of SLs at other stages of development and the regulation of SL-related gene expression are mostly unknown in Arabidopsis. In this study, we performed real-time reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) and microarray analysis using wild-type plants and SL-deficient/insensitive mutants to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying SL biosynthesis and signaling. We found that there is responsiveness to SL in the gene expression of Arabidopsis seedlings, which includes feedback regulation of two carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase genes. Microarray analysis revealed that exogenously applied SL regulated the expression of several genes, including light signaling-related genes and auxin-inducible genes. We also found that MORE AXILLARY GROWTH (MAX)2 plays an important role in the expression of SL-regulated genes. Our data support previous studies indicating that SL might function at the seedling stage. Analysis of SL-responsive and MAX2 downstream gene candidates provides new opportunities to broaden our understanding of SL signaling.

Heritable variation in the inflorescence replacement program of Arabidopsis thaliana

Owing to their sessile habits and trophic position within global ecosystems, higher plants display a sundry assortment of adaptations to the threat of predation. Unlike animals, nearly all higher plants can replace reproductive structures lost to predators by activating reserved growing points called axillary meristems. As the first step in a program aimed at defining the genetic architecture of the inflorescence replacement program (IRP) of Arabidopsis thaliana, we describe the results of a quantitative germplasm survey of developmental responses to loss of the primary reproductive axis. Eighty-five diverse accessions were grown in a replicated common garden and assessed for six life history traits and four IRP traits, including the number and lengths of axillary inflorescences present on the day that the first among them re-flowered after basal clipping of the primary inflorescence. Significant natural variation and high heritabilities were observed for all measured characters. Pairwise correlations among the 10 focal traits revealed a multi-dimensional phenotypic space sculpted by ontogenic and plastic allometries as well as apparent constraints and outliers of genetic interest. Cluster analysis of the IRP traits sorted the 85 accessions into 5 associations, a topology that establishes the boundaries within which the evolving Arabidopsis genome extends and restricts the species' IRP repertoire to that observable worldwide.

Overexpression of millet ZIP-like gene (SiPf40) affects lateral bud outgrowth in tobacco and millet

A SiPf40 gene was identified from an immature seed cDNA library of foxtail millet (Setaria italica). This gene encodes for a 29.4 KDa protein containing eight potential transmembrane domains and a highly conserved ZIP signature motif typical of ZIPs (zinc or iron transporter proteins) family. Other SiPf40 potential homologous genes have also been identified in rice, maize, wheat and Arabidopsis by Southern analysis. Expression data showed that this gene is preferentially expressed in millet hypocotyl and bud; however, a minimal level of constitutive expression could be detected in other foxtail millet tissues. Overexpression of SiPf40 gene causes extra branches in tobacco and extra tillering in millet associated with vessel enlarging and xylary fibers increasing, whereas the tiller number decreases in SiPf40 gene silenced plants. Moreover, IAA content decreased significantly in shoot apex of the transgenic tobacco overexpressing SiPf40 gene. All together, these morphological alterations indicate that SiPf40 gene is essential for lateral shoots growth.

Members of the LBD family of transcription factors repress anthocyanin synthesis and affect additional nitrogen responses in Arabidopsis

Nitrogen (N) and nitrate (NO(3)(-)) per se regulate many aspects of plant metabolism, growth, and development. N/NO(3)(-) also suppresses parts of secondary metabolism, including anthocyanin synthesis. Molecular components for this repression are unknown. We report that three N/NO(3)(-)-induced members of the LATERAL ORGAN BOUNDARY DOMAIN (LBD) gene family of transcription factors (LBD37, LBD38, and LBD39) act as negative regulators of anthocyanin biosynthesis in Arabidopsis thaliana. Overexpression of each of the three genes in the absence of N/NO(3)(-) strongly suppresses the key regulators of anthocyanin synthesis PAP1 and PAP2, genes in the anthocyanin-specific part of flavonoid synthesis, as well as cyanidin- but not quercetin- or kaempferol-glycoside production. Conversely, lbd37, lbd38, or lbd39 mutants accumulate anthocyanins when grown in N/NO(3)(-)-sufficient conditions and show constitutive expression of anthocyanin biosynthetic genes. The LBD genes also repress many other known N-responsive genes, including key genes required for NO(3)(-) uptake and assimilation, resulting in altered NO(3)(-) content, nitrate reductase activity/activation, protein, amino acid, and starch levels, and N-related growth phenotypes. The results identify LBD37 and its two close homologs as novel repressors of anthocyanin biosynthesis and N availability signals in general. They also show that, besides being developmental regulators, LBD genes fulfill roles in metabolic regulation.

Computational modeling and molecular physiology experiments reveal new insights into shoot branching in pea

Bud outgrowth is regulated by the interplay of multiple hormones, including auxin, cytokinin, strigolactones, and an unidentified long-distance feedback signal that moves from shoot to root. The model of bud outgrowth regulation in pea (Pisum sativum) includes these signals and a network of five RAMOSUS (RMS) genes that operate in a shoot-root-shoot loop to regulate the synthesis of, and response to, strigolactones. The number of components in this network renders the integration of new and existing hypotheses both complex and cumbersome. A hypothesis-driven computational model was therefore developed to help understand regulation of shoot branching. The model evolved in parallel with stepwise laboratory research, helping to define and test key hypotheses. The computational model was used to verify new mechanisms involved in the regulation of shoot branching by confirming that the new hypotheses captured all relevant biological data sets. Based on cytokinin and RMS1 expression analyses, this model is extended to include subtle but important differences in the function of RMS3 and RMS4 genes in the shoot and rootstock. Additionally, this research indicates that a branch-derived signal upregulates RMS1 expression independent of the other feedback signal. Furthermore, we propose xylem-sap cytokinin promotes sustained bud outgrowth, rather than acting at the earlier stage of bud release.

Control of bud activation by an auxin transport switch

In many plant species only a small proportion of buds yield branches. Both the timing and extent of bud activation are tightly regulated to produce specific branching architectures. For example, the primary shoot apex can inhibit the activation of lateral buds. This process is termed apical dominance and is dependent on the plant hormone auxin moving down the main stem in the polar auxin transport stream. We use a computational model and mathematical analysis to show that apical dominance can be explained in terms of an auxin transport switch established by the temporal precedence between competing auxin sources. Our model suggests a mechanistic basis for the indirect action of auxin in bud inhibition and captures the effects of diverse genetic and physiological manipulations. In particular, the model explains the surprising observation that highly branched Arabidopsis phenotypes can exhibit either high or low auxin transport.

Dwarf 88, a novel putative esterase gene affecting architecture of rice plant

Rice architecture is an important agronomic trait that affects grain yield. We characterized a tillering dwarf mutant d88 derived from Oryza sativa ssp. japonica cultivar Lansheng treated with EMS. The mutant had excessive shorter tillers and smaller panicles and seeds compared to the wild-type. A reduction in number and size of parenchyma cells around stem marrow cavity as well as a delay in the elongation of parenchyma cells caused slender tillers and dwarfism in the d88 mutant. The D88 gene was isolated via map-based cloning and identified to encode a putative esterase. The gene was expressed in most rice organs, with especially high levels in the vascular tissues. The mutant carried a nucleotide substitution in the first exon of the gene that led to the substitution of arginine for glycine, which presumably disrupted the functionally conserved N-myristoylation domain of the protein. The function of the gene was confirmed by complementation test and antisense analysis. D88, thus, represents a new category of genes that regulates cell growth and organ development and consequently plant architecture. The potential relationship between the tiller formation associated genes and D88 is discussed and future identification of the substrate for D88 may lead to the characterization of new pathways regulating plant development.

Strigolactones: a new hormone with a past

The recent discovery of an endogenous hormonal activity for strigolactones in shoot branching was surprising since these molecules were thought to mostly play roles as signaling molecules between organisms. Even in the context of plant hormones, strigolactones appear to be different in that their role in plant development is quite restricted. This most probably reflects early days and new hormonal functions will most probably be found for these compounds in the future. In this respect, the exogenous role of strigolactones in parasitic plant seed germination may hint to functions of this compound in seed development. However, showing new roles for strigolactones in the seed or any other aspect of plant development for that matter will require developing assays in model genetic systems such as Arabidopsis and rice where we can take full advantage of the experimental tools that are available.

Hormonal input in plant meristems: A balancing act

Plant hormones are a group of chemically diverse molecules that control virtually all aspects of plant development. Classical plant hormones were identified many decades ago in physiology studies that addressed plant growth regulation. In recent years, biochemical and genetic approaches led to the identification of many molecular components that mediate hormone activity, such as hormone receptors and hormone-regulated genes. This has greatly contributed to the understanding of the mechanisms underlying hormone activity and highlighted the intricate crosstalk and integration of hormone signalling and developmental pathways. Here we review and discuss recent findings on how hormones regulate the activity of shoot and root apical meristems.

Strigolactones, signals for parasitic plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Although strigolactones play a critical role as rhizospheric signaling molecules for the establishment of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis and for seed germination of parasitic weeds, scarce data are available about interactions between AM fungi and strigolactones. In the present work, we present background data on strigolactones from studies on their seed germination activity on the parasitic weeds Orobanche and Striga, the importance of nitrogen and phosphorus for this seed germination activity, and what this could mean for AM fungi. We also present results on the susceptibility of plants to AM fungi and the possible involvement of strigolactones in this AM susceptibility and discuss the role of strigolactones for the formation and the regulation of the AM symbiosis as well as the possible implication of these compounds as plant signals in other soil-borne plant-microbe interactions.

Identification and characterization of HTD2: a novel gene negatively regulating tiller bud outgrowth in rice

Tiller number is highly regulated by controlling the formation of tiller bud and its subsequent outgrowth in response to endogenous and environmental signals. Here, we identified a rice mutant htd2 from one of the 15,000 transgenic rice lines, which is characterized by a high tillering and dwarf phenotype. Phenotypic analysis of the mutant showed that the mutation did not affect formation of tiller bud, but promoted the subsequent outgrowth of tiller bud. To isolate the htd2 gene, a map-based cloning strategy was employed and 17 new insertions-deletions (InDels) markers were developed. A high-resolution physical map of the chromosomal region around the htd2 gene was made using the F(2) and F(3) population. Finally, the gene was mapped in 12.8 kb region between marker HT41 and marker HT52 within the BAC clone OSJNBa0009J13. Cloning and sequencing of the target region from the mutant showed that the T-DNA insertion caused a 463 bp deletion between the promoter and first exon of an esterase/lipase/thioesterase family gene in the 12.8 kb region. Furthermore, transgenic rice with reduced expression level of the gene exhibited an enhanced tillering and dwarf phenotype. Accordingly, the esterase/lipase/thioesterase family gene (TIGR locus Os03g10620) was identified as the HTD2 gene. HTD2 transcripts were expressed mainly in leaf. Loss of function of HTD2 resulted in a significantly increased expression of HTD1, D10 and D3, which were involved in the strigolactone biosynthetic pathway. The results suggest that the HTD2 gene could negatively regulate tiller bud outgrowth by the strigolactone pathway.

Axillary bud outgrowth potential is determined by parent apical bud activity

Axillary buds within a plant shoot system are known to differ in their ability to respond to treatments favouring their development. This ability is referred to as their outgrowth potential. Using two species of prostrate nodally-rooting herbs, dicotyledonous Trifolium repens and monocotyledonous Tradescantia fluminensis, grown throughout in a strictly vegetative state, this study tested two hypotheses. Hypothesis 1: that each axillary bud exhibits an outgrowth potential that is directly related to the growth rate of its parent apical bud, and Hypothesis 2: that the growth rate attained by an axillary bud depends upon both its outgrowth potential and the local supply of stimulatory root-derived signal (NRS) available to it. Activation levels (growth rates) of apical buds were varied by differential exposure to nodal roots and the outgrowth responses of axillary buds recently emerged from them were then measured under standardized conditions of NRS supply. Hypothesis 1 was shown to be correct for both species. Hypothesis 2, tested only in T. repens, was supported by results showing that an axillary bud's outgrowth potential and the NRS supply to it each independently influenced its growth rate, there being no significant interaction between the two. These results emphasize the significant role the physiological state/activity of apical buds has on the outgrowth potential of axillary buds formed within them. The fact that similar relationships were observed on axillary buds on stems of differing developmental maturity and branching hierarchy, and in two taxonomically diverse species, suggests they might be widespread among morphologically similar species.

Molecular dissection of the pea shoot apical meristem

The shoot apical meristem (SAM) is responsible for the development of all the above-ground parts of a plant. Our understanding of the SAM at the molecular level is incomplete. This study investigates the gene expression repertoire of SAMs in the garden pea (Pisum sativum). To this end, 10 346 EST sequences representing 7610 unique genes were generated from SAM cDNA libraries. These sequences, together with previously reported pea ESTs, were used to construct a 12K oligonucleotide array to identify genes with differential SAM expression, as compared to axillary meristems, root apical meristems, or non-meristematic tissues. A number of genes were identified, predominantly expressed in specific cell layers or domains of the SAM and thus are likely components of the gene networks involved in stem cell maintenance or the initiation of lateral organs. Further in situ hybridization analysis confirmed the spatial localization of some of these genes within the SAM. Our data also indicate the diversification of some gene expression patterns and hence functions in legume crop plants. A number of transcripts highly expressed in all three meristems have also been uncovered and these candidates may provide valuable insight into molecular networks that underpin the maintenance of meristematic functionality.

In vitro characterization of Synechocystis CYP120A1 revealed the first nonanimal retinoic acid hydroxylase

Retinoids are C(20) apocarotenoids that have various important functions in metazoans. In addition, several findings suggest their occurrence in eubacteria, including cyanobacteria. It has been shown that the Synechocystis cytochrome P450 enzyme CYP120A1 is a retinoic acid-binding polypeptide. In this work, we determined the reaction catalyzed by CYP120A1 and investigated its substrate specificity in vitro. CYP120A1-containing microsomes generated in yeast converted all-trans-retinoic acid into a compound exhibiting higher polarity in HPLC analysis. Liquid chromatography-MS analysis suggested the introduction of a single hydroxyl group, and NMR analysis of the purified product revealed C16 or C17 as the reaction site. Incubations with cis-retinoic acids, retinal, 3(R)-OH-retinal, retinol, beta-apo-13-carotenone (C(18)) and beta-apo-14'-carotenal (C(22)) resulted in the formation of the corresponding hydroxyl derivatives, as suggested by HPLC and liquid chromatography-MS analyses. Comparisons of the relative product amounts revealed the highest conversion rate for all-trans-retinoic acid, followed by beta-apo-13-carotenone (C(18)). As shown by real-time RT-PCR, CYP120A1 is expressed under normal growth conditions and is slightly induced by high-intensity light. Our work provides the first enzymatic study of a cyanobacterial cytochrome P450, showing it to be the first nonanimal retinoic acid-metabolizing enzyme characterized so far. Moreover, the CYP120A1-catalyzed reaction represents a novel modification of retinoids.

Plant oxylipins: COI1/JAZs/MYC2 as the core jasmonic acid-signalling module

Jasmonic acid (JA) and its derivates, collectively known as jasmonates (JAs), are essential signalling molecules that coordinate the plant response to biotic and abiotic challenges, in addition to several developmental processes. The COI1 F-box and additional SCF modulators have long been known to have a crucial role in the JA-signalling pathway. Downstream JA-dependent transcriptional re-programming is regulated by a cascade of transcription factors and MYC2 plays a major role. Recently, JAZ family proteins have been identified as COI1 targets and repressors of MYC2, defining the 'missing link' in JA signalling. JA-Ile has been proposed to be the active form of the hormone, and COI1 is an essential component of the receptor complex. These recent discoveries have defined the core JA-signalling pathway as the module COI1/JAZs/MYC2.

d14, a strigolactone-insensitive mutant of rice, shows an accelerated outgrowth of tillers

Recent studies using highly branched mutants of pea, Arabidopsis and rice have demonstrated that strigolactones, a group of terpenoid lactones, act as a new hormone class, or its biosynthetic precursors, in inhibiting shoot branching. Here, we provide evidence that DWARF14 (D14) inhibits rice tillering and may act as a new compo-nent of the strigolactone-dependent branching inhibition pathway. The d14 mutant exhibits increased shoot branch-ing with reduced plant height like the previously characterized strigolactone-deficient and -insensitive mutants d10 and d3, respectively. The d10-1 d14-1 double mutant is phenotypically indistinguishable from the d10-1 and d14-1 single mutants, consistent with the idea that D10 and D14 function in the same pathway. However, unlike with d10, the d14 branching phenotype could not be rescued by exogenous strigolactones. In addition, the d14 mutant contained a higher level of 2'-epi-5-deoxystrigol than the wild type. Positional cloning revealed that D14 encodes a protein of the alpha/beta-fold hydrolase superfamily, some members of which play a role in metabolism or signaling of plant hormones. We propose that D14 functions downstream of strigolactone synthesis, as a component of hormone signaling or as an enzyme that participates in the conversion of strigolactones to the bioactive form.

Novel lycopene epsilon cyclase activities in maize revealed through perturbation of carotenoid biosynthesis

In maize, human selection for yellow endosperm has led to diversification of grain carotenoid content and composition. This variation has remained largely untapped in modern breeding programs that have focused nearly exclusively on yield gains. In this paper, we show that carotenoid accumulation patterns differ in maize embryo and endosperm tissues, and that this tissue-specific accumulation is largely mediated through differential expression of genes encoding lycopene beta-cyclase and lycopene epsilon-cyclase (LcyB and LcyE). In the absence of LCYB function, LCYE produces a number of unusual carotenes, including delta-carotene, epsilon-carotene and lactucaxanthin (epsilon,epsilon-carotene-3,3'-diol), in endosperm tissue. A similar carotene cyclization profile is seen when LcyE is introduced into lycopene-accumulating Escherichia coli cells, suggesting that the carotenoid profile in the endosperm tissue of the lcyB mutant is largely due to the activity of LCYE in the absence of LCYB. Using site-directed mutagenesis of LcyE, critical amino acids were defined that regulate the product specificity of the enzyme. Finally, we show that several genes encoding enzymes in isoprenoid and carotenoid biosynthesis are probably subject to negative transcriptional regulation, mediated by a carotenoid or a molecule derived from a carotenoid. The implications of these findings with respect to breeding for carotenoid composition in maize grain are discussed.

Recent advances and emerging trends in plant hormone signalling

Plant growth and development is regulated by a structurally unrelated collection of small molecules called plant hormones. During the last 15 years the number of known plant hormones has grown from five to at least ten. Furthermore, many of the proteins involved in plant hormone signalling pathways have been identified, including receptors for many of the major hormones. Strikingly, the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway plays a central part in most hormone-signalling pathways. In addition, recent studies confirm that hormone signalling is integrated at several levels during plant growth and development.

A new class of conjugated strigolactone analogues with fluorescent properties: synthesis and biological activity

A new class of strigolactone analogues has been synthesized. They differ from known molecules, both of natural and synthetic origin, in two main features. The conjugated system extends from the enol ether bridge to the A ring, the B ring is a heterocycle while the C ring is a cyclic ketone instead of a gamma-lactone. The key step of the synthesis is a Nazarov cyclization on activated substrates. Bioassays using Orobanche seeds have revealed that all the molecules strongly stimulate germination; in particular the oxygen containing analogues are the most active. Interestingly, some of the new molecules show fluorescent properties.

Highly sensitive and high-throughput analysis of plant hormones using MS-probe modification and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry: an application for hormone profiling in Oryza sativa

We have developed a highly sensitive and high-throughput method for the simultaneous analysis of 43 molecular species of cytokinins, auxins, ABA and gibberellins. This method consists of an automatic liquid handling system for solid phase extraction and ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) coupled with a tandem quadrupole mass spectrometer (qMS/MS) equipped with an electrospray interface (ESI; UPLC-ESI-qMS/MS). In order to improve the detection limit of negatively charged compounds, such as gibberellins, we chemically derivatized fractions containing auxin, ABA and gibberellins with bromocholine that has a quaternary ammonium functional group. This modification, that we call 'MS-probe', makes these hormone derivatives have a positive ion charge and permits all compounds to be measured in the positive ion mode with UPLC-ESI-qMS/MS in a single run. Consequently, quantification limits of gibberellins increased up to 50-fold. Our current method needs <100 mg (FW) of plant tissues to determine phytohormone profiles and enables us to analyze >180 plant samples simultaneously. Application of this method to plant hormone profiling enabled us to draw organ distribution maps of hormone species in rice and also to identify interactions among the four major hormones in the rice gibberellin signaling mutants, gid1-3, gid2-1 and slr1. Combining the results of hormone profiling data with transcriptome data in the gibberellin signaling mutants allows us to analyze relationships between changes in gene expression and hormone metabolism.

Strigolactones: discovery of the elusive shoot branching hormone

The control of axillary bud outgrowth involves a network of hormonal signals and feedback regulation. A repressor of bud outgrowth that is central to the story has been missing since it was first postulated more than 70 years ago. This hormone moves upward in plant stems and can act as a long-distance messenger for auxin. Strigolactones, previously known as carotenoid-derived signals exuded from roots, fit the role of this elusive hormone. The discovery of branching inhibition by strigolactones will help solve many confusing aspects of branch control, including interactions with other signals, and is a great step forward toward uncovering the links between environment, genetics and plant form.

Survival of the flexible: hormonal growth control and adaptation in plant development

Plant development is subject to hormonal growth control and adapts to environmental cues such as light or stress. Recently, significant progress has been made in elucidating hormone synthesis, signalling and degradation pathways, and in resolving spatial and temporal aspects of hormone responses. Here we review how hormones control maintenance of stem cell systems, influence developmental transitions of stem cell daughters and define developmental compartments in Arabidopsis thaliana. We also discuss how environmental cues change plant growth by modulating hormone levels and response. Future analysis of hormone crosstalk and of hormone action at both single cell and organ levels will substantially improve our understanding of how plant development adapts to changes in intrinsic and environmental conditions.

Regulation and function of root exudates

Root-secreted chemicals mediate multi-partite interactions in the rhizosphere, where plant roots continually respond to and alter their immediate environment. Increasing evidence suggests that root exudates initiate and modulate dialogue between roots and soil microbes. For example, root exudates serve as signals that initiate symbiosis with rhizobia and mycorrhizal fungi. In addition, root exudates maintain and support a highly specific diversity of microbes in the rhizosphere of a given particular plant species, thus suggesting a close evolutionary link. In this review, we focus mainly on compiling the information available on the regulation and mechanisms of root exudation processes, and provide some ideas related to the evolutionary role of root exudates in shaping soil microbial communities.

Striga seed-germination activity of root exudates and compounds present in stems of Striga host and nonhost (trap crop) plants is reduced due to root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi reduces stimulation of seed germination of the plant parasite Striga (Orobanchaceae). This reduction can affect not only host plants for Striga, resulting in a lower parasite incidence, but also false hosts or trap crops, which induce suicidal Striga seed germination, thereby diminishing their effectiveness. In order to better understand these AM-induced effects, we tested the influence of root colonization by different AM fungi on the seed-germination activity of root exudates of the Striga hermonthica nonhost plants cowpea and cotton on S. hermonthica. We also tested the effect of AM fungi on the seed-germination activity of the Striga gesnerioides host plant cowpea on S. gesnerioides. Moreover, we studied whether mycorrhization affects the transport of seed-germination activity to above-ground plant parts. Mycorrhization not only resulted in a lower seed germination of S. gesnerioides in the presence of root exudates of the S. gesnerioides host cowpea but also seed germination of S. hermonthica was also lower in the presence of root exudates of the S. hermonthica nonhosts cowpea and cotton. Downregulation of the Striga seed-germination activity occurs not only in root exudates upon root colonization by different AM fungi but also in the compounds produced by stems. The lowered seed-germination activity does not appear to depend on the presence of seed germination inhibitors in the root exudates of mycorrhizal plants. The implication for Striga control in the field is discussed.

The control of shoot branching: an example of plant information processing

Throughout their life cycle, plants adjust their body plan to suit the environmental conditions in which they are growing. A good example of this is in the regulation of shoot branching. Axillary meristems laid down in each leaf formed from the primary shoot apical meristem can remain dormant, or activate to produce a branch. The decision whether to activate an axillary meristem involves the assessment of a wide range of external environmental, internal physiological and developmental factors. Much of this information is conveyed to the axillary meristem via a network of interacting hormonal signals that can integrate inputs from diverse sources, combining multiple local signals to generate a rich source of systemically transmitted information. Local interpretation of the information provides another layer of control, ensuring that appropriate decisions are made. Rapid progress in molecular biology is uncovering the component parts of this signalling network, and combining this with physiological studies and mathematical modelling will allow the operation of the system to be better understood.

The ubiquitin-26S proteasome system at the nexus of plant biology

Plants, like other eukaryotes, rely on proteolysis to control the abundance of key regulatory proteins and enzymes. Strikingly, genome-wide studies have revealed that the ubiquitin-26S proteasome system (UPS) in particular is an exceedingly large and complex route for protein removal, occupying nearly 6% of the Arabidopsis thaliana proteome. But why is the UPS so pervasive in plants? Data accumulated over the past few years now show that it targets numerous intracellular regulators that have central roles in hormone signalling, the regulation of chromatin structure and transcription, tailoring morphogenesis, responses to environmental challenges, self recognition and battling pathogens.

Auxin and other signals on the move in plants

As multicellular organisms, plants, like animals, use endogenous signaling molecules to coordinate their own physiology and development. To compensate for the absence of a cardiovascular system, plants have evolved specialized transport pathways to distribute signals and nutrients. The main transport streams include the xylem flow of the nutrients from the root to the shoot and the phloem flow of materials from the photosynthetic active tissues. These long-distance transport processes are complemented by several intercellular transport mechanisms (apoplastic, symplastic and transcellular transport). A prominent example of transcellular flow is transport of the phytohormone auxin within tissues. The process is mediated by influx and efflux carriers, whose polar localization in the plasma membrane determines the directionality of the flow. This polar auxin transport generates auxin maxima and gradients within tissues that are instrumental in the diverse regulation of various plant developmental processes, including embryogenesis, organogenesis, vascular tissue formation and tropisms.

Plant hormones are versatile chemical regulators of plant growth

The plant hormones are a structurally unrelated collection of small molecules derived from various essential metabolic pathways. These compounds are important regulators of plant growth and mediate responses to both biotic and abiotic stresses. During the last ten years there have been many exciting advances in our understanding of plant hormone biology, including new discoveries in the areas of hormone biosynthesis, transport, perception and response. Receptors for many of the major hormones have now been identified, providing new opportunities to study the chemical specificity of hormone signaling. These studies also reveal a surprisingly important role for the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in hormone signaling. In addition, recent work confirms that hormone signaling interacts at multiple levels during plant growth and development. In the future, a major challenge will be to understand how the information conveyed by these simple compounds is integrated during plant growth.

Laser microdissection and its application to analyze gene expression in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis

Phosphorus is essential for plant growth, and in many soils phosphorus availability limits crop production. Most plants in natural ecosystems obtain phosphorus via a symbiotic partnership with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. While the significance of these associations is apparent, their molecular basis is poorly understood. Consequently, the potential to harness the mycorrhizal symbiosis to improve phosphorus nutrition in agriculture is not realized. Transcript profiling has recently been used to investigate gene expression changes that accompany development of the AM symbiosis. While these approaches have enabled the identification of AM-symbiosis-associated genes, they have generally involved the use of RNA from whole mycorrhizal roots. Laser microdissection techniques allow the dissection and capture of individual cells from a tissue. RNA can then be isolated from these samples and cell-type specific gene expression information can be obtained. This technology has been applied to obtain cells from plants and more recently to study plant-microbe interactions. The latter techniques, particularly those developed for root-microbe interactions, are of relevance to plant-parasitic weed research. Here, laser microdissection, its use in plant biology and in particular plant-microbe interactions are discussed. An overview of the AM symbiosis is then provided, with a focus on recent advances in understanding development of the arbuscule-cortical cell interface. Finally, the recent applications of laser microdissection for analyses of AM symbiosis are discussed.

Strigolactone acts downstream of auxin to regulate bud outgrowth in pea and Arabidopsis

During the last century, two key hypotheses have been proposed to explain apical dominance in plants: auxin promotes the production of a second messenger that moves up into buds to repress their outgrowth, and auxin saturation in the stem inhibits auxin transport from buds, thereby inhibiting bud outgrowth. The recent discovery of strigolactone as the novel shoot-branching inhibitor allowed us to test its mode of action in relation to these hypotheses. We found that exogenously applied strigolactone inhibited bud outgrowth in pea (Pisum sativum) even when auxin was depleted after decapitation. We also found that strigolactone application reduced branching in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) auxin response mutants, suggesting that auxin may act through strigolactones to facilitate apical dominance. Moreover, strigolactone application to tiny buds of mutant or decapitated pea plants rapidly stopped outgrowth, in contrast to applying N-1-naphthylphthalamic acid (NPA), an auxin transport inhibitor, which significantly slowed growth only after several days. Whereas strigolactone or NPA applied to growing buds reduced bud length, only NPA blocked auxin transport in the bud. Wild-type and strigolactone biosynthesis mutant pea and Arabidopsis shoots were capable of instantly transporting additional amounts of auxin in excess of endogenous levels, contrary to predictions of auxin transport models. These data suggest that strigolactone does not act primarily by affecting auxin transport from buds. Rather, the primary repressor of bud outgrowth appears to be the auxin-dependent production of strigolactones.

Parasitic angiosperms, semagenesis and general strategies for plant-plant signaling in the rhizosphere

BACKGROUND

In addition to their roles in eukaryotic defense and development, reactive oxygen species (ROS) have recently been identified as critical for host attachment by the parasitic angiosperms. In a process known as semagenesis, ROS generated at the root tip of Striga asiatica (L.) Kuntze (Scrophulariaceae) function together with host peroxidases to oxidize monolignols at the host root surface. As a result, para-benzoquinone products accumulate as both necessary and sufficient components for inducing development of the host attachment organ, the haustorium. This event constitutes the critical vegetative/pathogenic transition in the parasite.

RESULTS

New evidence is presented that semagenesis occurs broadly in plant-plant signaling. Eudicotyledenous seedlings are more sensitive to the xenognostic benzoquinones than monocots, but general root development, including root elongation, root hair initiation and root hair growth, is impacted in both clades. Specific inhibitors of haustorial development in S. asiatica also inhibit benzoquinone-mediated root development in the non-parasites. These results suggest a common mechanism for benzoquinone perception.

CONCLUSION

Semagenesis enriches our understanding of the mechanisms available for small-molecule underground information exchange among plants. Critical differences in this process, as used by parasitic plants, are beginning to emerge and point towards new strategies for managing parasitic angiosperms in agricultural settings.

DWARF27, an iron-containing protein required for the biosynthesis of strigolactones, regulates rice tiller bud outgrowth

Tillering in rice (Oryza sativa) is one of the most important agronomic traits that determine grain yields. Previous studies on rice tillering mutants have shown that the outgrowth of tiller buds in rice is regulated by a carotenoid-derived MAX/RMS/D (more axillary branching) pathway, which may be conserved in higher plants. Strigolactones, a group of terpenoid lactones, have been recently identified as products of the MAX/RMS/D pathway that inhibits axillary bud outgrowth. We report here the molecular genetic characterization of d27, a classic rice mutant exhibiting increased tillers and reduced plant height. D27 encodes a novel iron-containing protein that localizes in chloroplasts and is expressed mainly in vascular cells of shoots and roots. The phenotype of d27 is correlated with enhanced polar auxin transport. The phenotypes of the d27 d10 double mutant are similar to those of d10, a mutant defective in the ortholog of MAX4/RMS1 in rice. In addition, 2'-epi-5-deoxystrigol, an identified strigolactone in root exudates of rice seedlings, was undetectable in d27, and the phenotypes of d27 could be rescued by supplementation with GR24, a synthetic strigolactone analog. Our results demonstrate that D27 is involved in the MAX/RMS/D pathway, in which D27 acts as a new member participating in the biosynthesis of strigolactones.

Structure and function of natural and synthetic signalling molecules in parasitic weed germination

The structures of naturally occurring germination stimulants for seeds of the parasitic weeds Striga spp. and Orobanche spp. are described. The bioactiphore in this strigolactone family of stimulants is deduced from a structure-activity relationship and shown to reside in the CD part of the stimulant molecule. A molecular mechanism for the initial stages of seed germination is proposed. The influence of stereochemistry on the stimulant activity is significant. Combining this molecular information leads to a model for the design of synthetic strigolactones. Nijmegen-1 is a typical example of a highly active, newly designed synthetic stimulant. The occurrence of natural stimulants not belonging to the strigolactone family, such as cotylenin and parthenolide, is briefly described. The biosynthesis of natural strigolactones from beta-carotene is analysed in terms of isolated and predicted stimulants. This scheme will be helpful in the search for new strigolactones from root exudates. Protein fishing experiments to isolate and characterise the receptor protein using biotin-labelled GR 24 are described. A receptor protein of 60 kD was identified by this method. Nijmegen-1 has been tested as a suicidal germination agent in field trials on tobacco infested by Orobanche ramosa L. The preliminary results are highly rewarding. Finally, some future challenges in synthesis are described. These include synthesising new natural and synthetic stimulants and establishing the molecular connection between strigolactones as germination stimulants, as the branching factor for arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and as an inhibitor of shoot branching.

The genetics of barley low-tillering mutants: absent lower laterals (als)

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) carrying the recessive mutation absent lower laterals (als) exhibits few tillers and irregular inflorescence development. To gain an increased understanding of the genetic control of tillering in barley, we conducted morphological, genetic, and transcriptome analysis of the als mutant. Axillary buds for primary tillers, but not for secondary tillers, developed in als plants. Double mutant combinations of als with one low-tillering and four high-tillering mutants resulted in a tillering phenotype similar to als, indicating that als was epistatic to these tillering genes. However, double mutant combinations of als with another low-tillering mutant, intermedium-b, reduced tiller numbers, indicating there were at least two genetic pathways regulating tillering in barley. Next, we used simple sequence repeat markers to map the Als gene on the long arm of barley chromosome 3H, Bin 11. Finally, the Affymetrix Barley1 GeneChip was used to identify differentially accumulated transcripts in als compared to wild-type. Forty percent of the transcripts with twofold or greater accumulation in als tissues corresponded to stress and defense response genes. This finding suggested that a tillering pathway may modulate the stress response.

Strigolactones: ecological significance and use as a target for parasitic plant control

Parasitic weeds cause severe damage to important agricultural crops. Although some promising control methods against these parasitic plants have been developed, new strategies continue to be relevant in integrated approaches. The life cycle for root parasitic weeds is intimately associated with their host and is a suitable target for such new control strategies, particularly when directed at the early stages of the host-parasite interaction. Here, the authors focus on knowledge of the germination stimulants-strigolactones-for the root parasitic plants Striga and Orobanche spp. and discuss their biosynthetic origin, ecological significance and physiological and biochemical regulation. In addition, the existing and possible new control strategies that are based on this knowledge, and that could lead to more efficient control methods against these root parasitic weeds, are reviewed.

Strigolactones: structures and biological activities

Strigolactones released from plant roots induce seed germination of root parasitic weeds, witchweeds (Striga spp.) and broomrapes (Orobanche spp.), and hyphal branching of symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. In addition to these functions in the rhizosphere, strigolactones have recently been shown to be a novel class of plant hormones regulating shoot outgrowth. The natural strigolactones identified so far have the common C-D ring moiety, which is thought to be the essential structure for exhibiting biological activity. The introduction of substitutions on the A-B ring moiety of 5-deoxystrigol, the basic strigolactone, affords various strigolactones, e.g. hydroxylation on C-4, C-5 and C-9 leads to orobanchol, strigol and sorgomol respectively. Then, acetylation and probably other derivatisations of these hydroxy-strigolactones would occur. Although the C-2'-(R) stereochemistry was thought to be an important structural feature for potent germination stimulation activity, 2'-epi-strigolactones were found in root exudates of tobacco, rice, pea and other plant species, indicating that at least some plants produce both epimers.

Thinking outside the F-box: novel ligands for novel receptors

The importance of regulated proteolysis in the physiology and development of plants is highlighted by the large number of genes dedicated to proteasome-dependent protein degradation. Within the SCF class of E3 ubiquitin ligases are more than 700 F-box proteins that act as recognition modules to specifically target their dedicated substrates for ubiquitylation. This review focuses on very recent studies indicating that some F-box proteins function as phytohormone or light receptors, which directly perceive signals and facilitate specific target-protein degradation to regulate downstream pathways. If this new connection between ligand-regulated proteolysis and signaling proves to be more extensive, an entirely new way of understanding the control of signal transduction is in the offing.