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Nien YC, Vanek A, Axtell MJ. Trans-Species Mobility of RNA Interference between Plants and Associated Organisms. PLANT & CELL PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 65:694-703. [PMID: 38288670 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcae012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Trans-species RNA interference (RNAi) occurs naturally when small RNAs (sRNAs) silence genes in species different from their origin. This phenomenon has been observed between plants and various organisms including fungi, animals and other plant species. Understanding the mechanisms used in natural cases of trans-species RNAi, such as sRNA processing and movement, will enable more effective development of crop protection methods using host-induced gene silencing (HIGS). Recent progress has been made in understanding the mechanisms of cell-to-cell and long-distance movement of sRNAs within individual plants. This increased understanding of endogenous plant sRNA movement may be translatable to trans-species sRNA movement. Here, we review diverse cases of natural trans-species RNAi focusing on current theories regarding intercellular and long-distance sRNA movement. We also touch on trans-species sRNA evolution, highlighting its research potential and its role in improving the efficacy of HIGS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Chi Nien
- Plant Biology Intercollege Ph.D. Program, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Allison Vanek
- Bioinformatics and Genomics Ph.D. Program, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Michael J Axtell
- Plant Biology Intercollege Ph.D. Program, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Bioinformatics and Genomics Ph.D. Program, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
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2
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Edema H, Bawin T, Olsen S, Krause K, Karppinen K. Parasitic dodder expresses an arsenal of secreted cellulases with multi-substrate specificity during host invasion. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2024; 210:108633. [PMID: 38663263 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.108633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
Cuscuta campestris is a common and problematic parasitic plant which relies on haustoria to connect to and siphon nutrients from host plants. Glycoside hydrolase family 9 (GH9) cellulases (EC 3.2.1.4) play critical roles in plant cell wall biosynthesis and disassembly, but their roles during Cuscuta host invasion remains underexplored. In this study, we identified 22 full-length GH9 cellulase genes in C. campestris genome, which encoded fifteen secreted and seven membrane-anchored cellulases that showed distinct phylogenetic relationships. Expression profiles suggested that some of the genes are involved in biosynthesis and remodeling of the parasite's cell wall during haustoriogenesis, while other genes encoding secreted B- and C-type cellulases are tentatively associated with degrading host cell walls during invasion. Transcriptomic data in a host-free system and in the presence of susceptible or partially resistant tomato hosts, showed for especially GH9B7, GH9B11 and GH9B12 a shift in expression profiles in the presence of hosts, being more highly expressed during host attachment, indicating that Cuscuta can tune cellulase expression in response to a host. Functional analyses of recombinant B- and C-type cellulases showed endoglucanase activities over wide pH and temperature conditions, and activities towards multiple cellulose and hemicellulose substrates. These findings improve our understanding of host cell wall disassembly by Cuscuta, and cellulase activity towards broad substrate range potentially explain its wide host range. This is the first study to provide a broad biochemical insight into Cuscuta GH9 cellulases, which based on our study may have potential applications in industrial bioprocessing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hilary Edema
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, 9037, Norway; The Arctic Centre for Sustainable Energy, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, 9037, Norway.
| | - Thomas Bawin
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, 9037, Norway.
| | - Stian Olsen
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, 9037, Norway.
| | - Kirsten Krause
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, 9037, Norway; The Arctic Centre for Sustainable Energy, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, 9037, Norway.
| | - Katja Karppinen
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, 9037, Norway; The Arctic Centre for Sustainable Energy, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, 9037, Norway.
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3
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Bawin T, Didriksen A, Faehn C, Olsen S, Sørensen I, Rose JKC, Krause K. Cuscuta campestris fine-tunes gene expression during haustoriogenesis as an adaptation to different hosts. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 194:258-273. [PMID: 37706590 PMCID: PMC10756757 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiad505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
The Cuscuta genus comprises obligate parasitic plants that have an unusually wide host range. Whether Cuscuta uses different infection strategies for different hosts or whether the infection strategy is mechanistically and enzymatically conserved remains unknown. To address this, we investigated molecular events during the interaction between field dodder (Cuscuta campestris) and two host species of the Solanum genus that are known to react differently to parasitic infection. We found that host gene induction, particularly of cell wall fortifying genes, coincided with a differential induction of genes for cell wall degradation in the parasite in the cultivated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) but not in a wild relative (Solanum pennellii). This indicates that the parasite can adjust its gene expression in response to its host. This idea was supported by the increased expression of C. campestris genes encoding an endo-β-1,4-mannanase in response to exposure of the parasite to purified mono- and polysaccharides in a host-independent infection system. Our results suggest multiple key roles of the host cell wall in determining the outcome of an infection attempt.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Bawin
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø 9019, Norway
| | - Alena Didriksen
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø 9019, Norway
| | - Corine Faehn
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø 9019, Norway
| | - Stian Olsen
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø 9019, Norway
| | - Iben Sørensen
- Plant Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Jocelyn K C Rose
- Plant Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Kirsten Krause
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø 9019, Norway
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4
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Leso M, Kokla A, Feng M, Melnyk CW. Pectin modifications promote haustoria development in the parasitic plant Phtheirospermum japonicum. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 194:229-242. [PMID: 37311199 PMCID: PMC10762509 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiad343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Parasitic plants are globally prevalent pathogens with important ecological functions but also potentially devastating agricultural consequences. Common to all parasites is the formation of the haustorium which requires parasite organ development and tissue invasion into the host. Both processes involve cell wall modifications. Here, we investigated a role for pectins during haustorium development in the facultative parasitic plant Phtheirospermum japonicum. Using transcriptomics data from infected Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) and rice (Oryza sativa), we identified genes for multiple P. japonicum pectin methylesterases (PMEs) and their inhibitors (PMEIs) whose expression was upregulated by haustoria formation. Changes in PME and PMEI expression were associated with tissue-specific modifications in pectin methylesterification. While de-methylesterified pectins were present in outer haustorial cells, highly methylesterified pectins were present in inner vascular tissues, including the xylem bridge that connects parasite to host. Specifically blocking xylem bridge formation in the haustoria inhibited several PME and PMEI genes from activating. Similarly, inhibiting PME activity using chemicals or by overexpressing PMEI genes delayed haustoria development. Our results suggest a dynamic and tissue-specific regulation of pectin contributes to haustoria initiation and to the establishment of xylem connections between parasite and host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Leso
- Department of Plant Biology, Linnean Center for Plant Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Almas allé 5, 756 51 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anna Kokla
- Department of Plant Biology, Linnean Center for Plant Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Almas allé 5, 756 51 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ming Feng
- Department of Plant Biology, Linnean Center for Plant Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Almas allé 5, 756 51 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Charles W Melnyk
- Department of Plant Biology, Linnean Center for Plant Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Almas allé 5, 756 51 Uppsala, Sweden
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5
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Cui S, Inaba S, Suzaki T, Yoshida S. Developing for nutrient uptake: Induced organogenesis in parasitic plants and root nodule symbiosis. CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 76:102473. [PMID: 37826989 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2023.102473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Plants have evolved diverse strategies to meet their nutritional needs. Parasitic plants employ haustoria, specialized structures that facilitate invasion of host plants and nutrient acquisition. Legumes have adapted to nitrogen-limited conditions by developing nodules that accommodate nitrogen-fixing rhizobia. The formation of both haustoria and nodules is induced by signals originating from the interacting organisms, namely host plants and rhizobial bacteria, respectively. Emerging studies showed that both organogenesis crucially involves plant hormones such as auxin, cytokinins, and ethylene and also integrate nutrient availability, particularly nitrogen. In this review, we discuss recent advances on hormonal and environmental control of haustoria and nodules development with side-by-side comparison. These underscore the remarkable plasticity of plant organogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songkui Cui
- Department of Economic Plants and Biotechnology, Yunnan Key Laboratory for Wild Plant Resources, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Shoko Inaba
- Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Ikoma, Nara, Japan
| | - Takuya Suzaki
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan; Tsukuba Plant-Innovation Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
| | - Satoko Yoshida
- Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Ikoma, Nara, Japan.
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6
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Jhu MY, Ellison EE, Sinha NR. CRISPR gene editing to improve crop resistance to parasitic plants. Front Genome Ed 2023; 5:1289416. [PMID: 37965302 PMCID: PMC10642197 DOI: 10.3389/fgeed.2023.1289416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Parasitic plants pose a significant threat to global agriculture, causing substantial crop losses and hampering food security. In recent years, CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) gene-editing technology has emerged as a promising tool for developing resistance against various plant pathogens. Its application in combating parasitic plants, however, remains largely unexplored. This review aims to summarise current knowledge and research gaps in utilising CRISPR to develop resistance against parasitic plants. First, we outline recent improvements in CRISPR gene editing tools, and what has been used to combat various plant pathogens. To realise the immense potential of CRISPR, a greater understanding of the genetic basis underlying parasitic plant-host interactions is critical to identify suitable target genes for modification. Therefore, we discuss the intricate interactions between parasitic plants and their hosts, highlighting essential genes and molecular mechanisms involved in defence response and multilayer resistance. These include host resistance responses directly repressing parasitic plant germination or growth and indirectly influencing parasitic plant development via manipulating environmental factors. Finally, we evaluate CRISPR-mediated effectiveness and long-term implications for host resistance and crop improvement, including inducible resistance response and tissue-specific activity. In conclusion, this review highlights the challenges and opportunities CRISPR technology provides to combat parasitic plants and provides insights for future research directions to safeguard global agricultural productivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min-Yao Jhu
- Crop Science Centre, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Evan E. Ellison
- Crop Science Centre, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Neelima R. Sinha
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
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7
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Hudzik C, Maguire S, Guan S, Held J, Axtell MJ. Trans-species microRNA loci in the parasitic plant Cuscuta campestris have a U6-like snRNA promoter. THE PLANT CELL 2023; 35:1834-1847. [PMID: 36896651 PMCID: PMC10226579 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koad076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Small regulatory RNAs can move between organisms and regulate gene expression in the recipient. Whether the trans-species small RNAs being exported are distinguished from the normal endogenous small RNAs of the source organism is not known. The parasitic plant Cuscuta campestris (dodder) produces many microRNAs that specifically accumulate at the host-parasite interface, several of which have trans-species activity. We found that induction of C. campestris interface-induced microRNAs is similar regardless of host species and occurs in C. campestris haustoria produced in the absence of any host. The loci-encoding C. campestris interface-induced microRNAs are distinguished by a common cis-regulatory element. This element is identical to a conserved upstream sequence element (USE) used by plant small nuclear RNA loci. The properties of the interface-induced microRNA primary transcripts strongly suggest that they are produced via U6-like transcription by RNA polymerase III. The USE promotes accumulation of interface-induced miRNAs (IIMs) in a heterologous system. This promoter element distinguishes C. campestris IIM loci from other plant small RNAs. Our data suggest that C. campestris IIMs are produced in a manner distinct from canonical miRNAs. All confirmed C. campestris microRNAs with documented trans-species activity are interface-induced and possess these features. We speculate that RNA polymerase III transcription of IIMs may allow these miRNAs to be exported to hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Collin Hudzik
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Sean Maguire
- New England Biolabs, Inc., 240 County Road, Ipswich, MA 01938, USA
| | - Shengxi Guan
- New England Biolabs, Inc., 240 County Road, Ipswich, MA 01938, USA
| | - Jeremy Held
- Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Michael J Axtell
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
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8
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Hartenstein M, Albert M, Krause K. The plant vampire diaries: a historic perspective on Cuscuta research. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2023; 74:2944-2955. [PMID: 36882965 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erad082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The angiosperm genus Cuscuta lives as an almost achlorophyllous root- and leafless holoparasite and has therefore occupied scientists for more than a century. The 'evolution' of Cuscuta research started with early studies that established the phylogenetic framework for this unusual genus. It continued to produce groundbreaking cytological, morphological, and physiological insight throughout the second half of the 20th century and culminated in the last two decades in exciting discoveries regarding the molecular basis of Cuscuta parasitism that were facilitated by the modern 'omics' tools and traceable fluorescent marker technologies of the 21st century. This review will show how present activities are inspired by those past breakthroughs. It will describe significant milestones and recurring themes of Cuscuta research and connect these to the remaining as well as newly evolving questions and future directions in this research field that is expected to sustain its strong growth in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maleen Hartenstein
- Department of Biology, Molecular Plant Physiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 5, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Markus Albert
- Department of Biology, Molecular Plant Physiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 5, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Kirsten Krause
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Framstredet 39, 9019 Tromsø, Norway
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Genomic and Epigenomic Mechanisms of the Interaction between Parasitic and Host Plants. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032647. [PMID: 36768970 PMCID: PMC9917227 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Parasitic plants extract nutrients from the other plants to finish their life cycle and reproduce. The control of parasitic weeds is notoriously difficult due to their tight physical association and their close biological relationship to their hosts. Parasitic plants differ in their susceptible host ranges, and the host species differ in their susceptibility to parasitic plants. Current data show that adaptations of parasitic plants to various hosts are largely genetically determined. However, multiple cases of rapid adaptation in genetically homogenous parasitic weed populations to new hosts strongly suggest the involvement of epigenetic mechanisms. Recent progress in genome-wide analyses of gene expression and epigenetic features revealed many new molecular details of the parasitic plants' interactions with their host plants. The experimental data obtained in the last several years show that multiple common features have independently evolved in different lines of the parasitic plants. In this review we discuss the most interesting new details in the interaction between parasitic and host plants.
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Aguilar-Venegas M, Quintana-Rodríguez E, Aguilar-Hernández V, López-García CM, Conejo-Dávila E, Brito-Argáez L, Loyola-Vargas VM, Vega-Arreguín J, Orona-Tamayo D. Protein Profiling of Psittacanthus calyculatus during Mesquite Infection. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:464. [PMID: 36771550 PMCID: PMC9920738 DOI: 10.3390/plants12030464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Psittacanthus calyculatus is a hemiparasite mistletoe that represents an ecological problem due to the impacts caused to various tree species of ecological and commercial interest. Although the life cycle for the Psittacanthus genus is well established in the literature, the development stages and molecular mechanism implicated in P. calyculatus host infection are poorly understood. In this study, we used a manageable infestation of P. laevigata with P. calyculatus to clearly trace the infection, which allowed us to describe five phenological infective stages of mistletoe on host tree branches: mature seed (T1), holdfast formation (T2), haustorium activation (T3), haustorium penetration (T4), and haustorium connection (T5) with the host tree. Proteomic analyses revealed proteins with a different accumulation and cellular processes in infective stages. Activities of the cell wall-degrading enzymes cellulase and β-1,4-glucosidase were primarily active in haustorium development (T3), while xylanase, endo-glucanase, and peptidase were highly active in the haustorium penetration (T4) and xylem connection (T5). Patterns of auxins and cytokinin showed spatial concentrations in infective stages and moreover were involved in haustorium development. These results are the first evidence of proteins, cell wall-degrading enzymes, and phytohormones that are involved in early infection for the Psittacanthus genus, and thus represent a general infection mechanism for other mistletoe species. These results could help to understand the molecular dialogue in the establishment of P. calyculatus parasitism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Montserrat Aguilar-Venegas
- Ciencias Agrogenómicas, Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores, Unidad León, UNAM, León CP 37684, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | | | - Víctor Aguilar-Hernández
- Unidad de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular de Plantas, CICY, A.C., Mérida CP 97205, Yucatán, Mexico
| | | | - Efraín Conejo-Dávila
- Unidad Profesional Interdisciplinaria de Ingeniería Campus Guanajuato, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Silao de la Victoria CP 36275, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - Ligia Brito-Argáez
- Unidad de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular de Plantas, CICY, A.C., Mérida CP 97205, Yucatán, Mexico
| | - Víctor M. Loyola-Vargas
- Unidad de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular de Plantas, CICY, A.C., Mérida CP 97205, Yucatán, Mexico
| | - Julio Vega-Arreguín
- Ciencias Agrogenómicas, Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores, Unidad León, UNAM, León CP 37684, Guanajuato, Mexico
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11
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Jhu MY, Sinha NR. Cuscuta species: Model organisms for haustorium development in stem holoparasitic plants. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:1086384. [PMID: 36578337 PMCID: PMC9792094 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1086384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Parasitic plants are notorious for causing serious agricultural losses in many countries. Specialized intrusive organs, haustoria, confer on parasitic plants the ability to acquire water and nutrients from their host plants. Investigating the mechanism involved in haustorium development not only reveals the fascinating mystery of how autotrophic plants evolved parasitism but also provides the foundation for developing more effective methods to control the agricultural damage caused by parasitic plants. Cuscuta species, also known as dodders, are one of the most well-known and widely spread stem holoparasitic plants. Although progress has been made recently in understanding the evolution and development of haustoria in root parasitic plants, more and more studies indicate that the behaviors between root and stem haustorium formation are distinct, and the mechanisms involved in the formation of these organs remain largely unknown. Unlike most endoparasites and root holoparasitic plants, which have high host-specificity and self- or kin-recognition to avoid forming haustoria on themselves or closely related species, auto-parasitism and hyper-parasitism are commonly observed among Cuscuta species. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of haustorium development in dodders and the unique characteristics of their parasitizing behaviors. We also outline the advantages of using Cuscuta species as model organisms for haustorium development in stem holoparasitic plants, the current unknown mysteries and limitations in the Cuscuta system, and potential future research directions to overcome these challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min-Yao Jhu
- Crop Science Centre, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Neelima R. Sinha
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, CA, United States
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12
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Ibarra-Laclette E, Venancio-Rodríguez CA, Vásquez-Aguilar AA, Alonso-Sánchez AG, Pérez-Torres CA, Villafán E, Ramírez-Barahona S, Galicia S, Sosa V, Rebollar EA, Lara C, González-Rodríguez A, Díaz-Fleisher F, Ornelas JF. Transcriptional Basis for Haustorium Formation and Host Establishment in Hemiparasitic Psittacanthus schiedeanus Mistletoes. Front Genet 2022; 13:929490. [PMID: 35769994 PMCID: PMC9235361 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.929490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The mistletoe Psittacanthus schiedeanus, a keystone species in interaction networks between plants, pollinators, and seed dispersers, infects a wide range of native and non-native tree species of commercial interest. Here, using RNA-seq methodology we assembled the whole circularized quadripartite structure of P. schiedeanus chloroplast genome and described changes in the gene expression of the nuclear genomes across time of experimentally inoculated seeds. Of the 140,467 assembled and annotated uniGenes, 2,000 were identified as differentially expressed (DEGs) and were classified in six distinct clusters according to their expression profiles. DEGs were also classified in enriched functional categories related to synthesis, signaling, homoeostasis, and response to auxin and jasmonic acid. Since many orthologs are involved in lateral or adventitious root formation in other plant species, we propose that in P. schiedeanus (and perhaps in other rootless mistletoe species), these genes participate in haustorium formation by complex regulatory networks here described. Lastly, and according to the structural similarities of P. schiedeanus enzymes with those that are involved in host cell wall degradation in fungi, we suggest that a similar enzymatic arsenal is secreted extracellularly and used by mistletoes species to easily parasitize and break through tissues of the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrique Ibarra-Laclette
- Instituto de Ecología A.C. (INECOL), Red de Estudios Moleculares Avanzados (REMAv), Xalapa, Mexico
| | | | | | | | - Claudia-Anahí Pérez-Torres
- Instituto de Ecología A.C. (INECOL), Red de Estudios Moleculares Avanzados (REMAv), Xalapa, Mexico
- Investigador por Mexico-CONACyT en el Instituto de Ecología A.C. (INECOL), Xalapa, Mexico
| | - Emanuel Villafán
- Instituto de Ecología A.C. (INECOL), Red de Estudios Moleculares Avanzados (REMAv), Xalapa, Mexico
| | - Santiago Ramírez-Barahona
- Departamento de Botánica, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico (UNAM), Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
| | - Sonia Galicia
- Instituto de Ecología A.C. (INECOL), Red de Biología Evolutiva, Xalapa, Mexico
| | - Victoria Sosa
- Instituto de Ecología A.C. (INECOL), Red de Biología Evolutiva, Xalapa, Mexico
| | - Eria A. Rebollar
- Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Cuernavaca, Mexico
| | - Carlos Lara
- Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala, Mexico
| | - Antonio González-Rodríguez
- Laboratorio de Genética de la Conservación, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad (IIES), UNAM, Morelia, Mexico
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13
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Jhu MY, Sinha NR. Parasitic Plants: An Overview of Mechanisms by Which Plants Perceive and Respond to Parasites. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PLANT BIOLOGY 2022; 73:433-455. [PMID: 35363532 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-arplant-102820-100635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In contrast to most autotrophic plants, which produce carbohydrates from carbon dioxide using photosynthesis, parasitic plants obtain water and nutrients by parasitizing host plants. Many important crop plants are infested by these heterotrophic plants, leading to severe agricultural loss and reduced food security. Understanding how host plants perceive and resist parasitic plants provides insight into underlying defense mechanisms and the potential for agricultural applications. In this review, we offer a comprehensive overview of the current understanding of host perception of parasitic plants and the pre-attachment and post-attachment defense responses mounted by the host. Since most current research overlooks the role of organ specificity in resistance responses, we also summarize the current understanding and cases of cross-organ parasitism, which indicates nonconventional haustorial connections on other host organs, for example, when stem parasitic plants form haustoria on their host roots. Understanding how different tissue types respond to parasitic plants could provide the potential for developing a universal resistance mechanism in crops against both root and stem parasitic plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min-Yao Jhu
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, California, USA;
- Crop Science Centre, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Neelima R Sinha
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, California, USA;
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14
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Bawin T, Bruckmüller J, Olsen S, Krause K. A host-free transcriptome for haustoriogenesis in Cuscuta campestris: Signature gene expression identifies markers of successive development stages. PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM 2022; 174:e13628. [PMID: 35048368 PMCID: PMC9313786 DOI: 10.1111/ppl.13628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
The development of the infection organ of the parasitic angiosperm genus Cuscuta is a dynamic process that is normally obscured from view as it happens endophytically in its host. We artificially induced haustoriogenesis in Cuscuta campestris by far-red light to define specific morphologically different stages and analyze their transcriptional patterns. This information enabled us to extract sets of high-confidence housekeeping and marker genes for the different stages, validated in a natural infection setting on a compatible host. This study provides a framework for more reproducible investigations of haustoriogenesis and the processes governing host-parasite interactions in shoot parasites, with C. campestris as a model species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Bawin
- Department of Arctic and Marine BiologyUiT The Arctic University of NorwayTromsøNorway
| | - Julien Bruckmüller
- Department of Arctic and Marine BiologyUiT The Arctic University of NorwayTromsøNorway
| | - Stian Olsen
- Department of Arctic and Marine BiologyUiT The Arctic University of NorwayTromsøNorway
| | - Kirsten Krause
- Department of Arctic and Marine BiologyUiT The Arctic University of NorwayTromsøNorway
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15
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Jhu MY, Farhi M, Wang L, Zumstein K, Sinha NR. Investigating Host and Parasitic Plant Interaction by Tissue-Specific Gene Analyses on Tomato and Cuscuta campestris Interface at Three Haustorial Developmental Stages. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 12:764843. [PMID: 35222447 PMCID: PMC8866705 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.764843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Parasitic weeds cause billions of dollars in agricultural losses each year worldwide. Cuscuta campestris (C. campestris), one of the most widespread and destructive parasitic plants in the United States, severely reduces yield in tomato plants. Reducing the spread of parasitic weeds requires understanding the interaction between parasites and hosts. Several studies have identified factors needed for parasitic plant germination and haustorium induction, and genes involved in host defense responses. However, knowledge of the mechanisms underlying the interactions between host and parasitic plants, specifically at the interface between the two organisms, is relatively limited. A detailed investigation of the crosstalk between the host and parasite at the tissue-specific level would enable development of effective parasite control strategies. To focus on the haustorial interface, we used laser-capture microdissection (LCM) with RNA-seq on early, intermediate and mature haustorial stages. In addition, the tomato host tissue that immediately surround the haustoria was collected to obtain tissue- resolution RNA-Seq profiles for C. campestris and tomato at the parasitism interface. After conducting RNA-Seq analysis and constructing gene coexpression networks (GCNs), we identified CcHB7, CcPMEI, and CcERF1 as putative key regulators involved in C. campestris haustorium organogenesis, and three potential regulators, SlPR1, SlCuRe1-like, and SlNLR, in tomatoes that are involved in perceiving signals from the parasite. We used host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) transgenic tomatoes to knock-down the candidate genes in C. campestris and produced CRISPR transgenic tomatoes to knock out candidate genes in tomatoes. The interactions of C. campestris with these transgenic lines were tested and compared with that in wild-type tomatoes. The results of this study reveal the tissue-resolution gene regulatory mechanisms at the parasitic plant-host interface and provide the potential of developing a parasite-resistant system in tomatoes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min-Yao Jhu
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, CA, United States
- Crop Science Centre, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Moran Farhi
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, CA, United States
- The Better Meat Co., West Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, CA, United States
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Kristina Zumstein
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Neelima R. Sinha
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, CA, United States
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16
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Thomas H, Van den Broeck L, Spurney R, Sozzani R, Frank M. Gene regulatory networks for compatible versus incompatible grafts identify a role for SlWOX4 during junction formation. THE PLANT CELL 2022; 34:535-556. [PMID: 34609518 DOI: 10.1101/2021.02.26.433082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/25/2021] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Grafting has been adopted for a wide range of crops to enhance productivity and resilience; for example, grafting of Solanaceous crops couples disease-resistant rootstocks with scions that produce high-quality fruit. However, incompatibility severely limits the application of grafting and graft incompatibility remains poorly understood. In grafts, immediate incompatibility results in rapid death, but delayed incompatibility can take months or even years to manifest, creating a significant economic burden for perennial crop production. To gain insight into the genetic mechanisms underlying this phenomenon, we developed a model system using heterografting of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and pepper (Capsicum annuum). These grafted plants express signs of anatomical junction failure within the first week of grafting. By generating a detailed timeline for junction formation, we were able to pinpoint the cellular basis for this delayed incompatibility. Furthermore, we inferred gene regulatory networks for compatible self-grafts and incompatible heterografts based on these key anatomical events, which predict core regulators for grafting. Finally, we examined the role of vascular development in graft formation and uncovered SlWOX4 as a potential regulator of graft compatibility. Following this predicted regulator up with functional analysis, we show that Slwox4 homografts fail to form xylem bridges across the junction, demonstrating that indeed, SlWOX4 is essential for vascular reconnection during grafting, and may function as an early indicator of graft failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Thomas
- School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14850, USA
| | - Lisa Van den Broeck
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
| | - Ryan Spurney
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
| | - Rosangela Sozzani
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
| | - Margaret Frank
- School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14850, USA
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17
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Thomas H, Van den Broeck L, Spurney R, Sozzani R, Frank M. Gene regulatory networks for compatible versus incompatible grafts identify a role for SlWOX4 during junction formation. THE PLANT CELL 2022; 34:535-556. [PMID: 34609518 PMCID: PMC8846177 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koab246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Grafting has been adopted for a wide range of crops to enhance productivity and resilience; for example, grafting of Solanaceous crops couples disease-resistant rootstocks with scions that produce high-quality fruit. However, incompatibility severely limits the application of grafting and graft incompatibility remains poorly understood. In grafts, immediate incompatibility results in rapid death, but delayed incompatibility can take months or even years to manifest, creating a significant economic burden for perennial crop production. To gain insight into the genetic mechanisms underlying this phenomenon, we developed a model system using heterografting of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and pepper (Capsicum annuum). These grafted plants express signs of anatomical junction failure within the first week of grafting. By generating a detailed timeline for junction formation, we were able to pinpoint the cellular basis for this delayed incompatibility. Furthermore, we inferred gene regulatory networks for compatible self-grafts and incompatible heterografts based on these key anatomical events, which predict core regulators for grafting. Finally, we examined the role of vascular development in graft formation and uncovered SlWOX4 as a potential regulator of graft compatibility. Following this predicted regulator up with functional analysis, we show that Slwox4 homografts fail to form xylem bridges across the junction, demonstrating that indeed, SlWOX4 is essential for vascular reconnection during grafting, and may function as an early indicator of graft failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Thomas
- School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14850, USA
| | - Lisa Van den Broeck
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
| | - Ryan Spurney
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
| | - Rosangela Sozzani
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
| | - Margaret Frank
- School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14850, USA
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18
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Yokoyama R, Yokoyama T, Kuroha T, Park J, Aoki K, Nishitani K. Regulatory Modules Involved in the Degradation and Modification of Host Cell Walls During Cuscuta campestris Invasion. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:904313. [PMID: 35873971 PMCID: PMC9298654 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.904313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Haustoria of parasitic plants have evolved sophisticated traits to successfully infect host plants. The degradation and modification of host cell walls enable the haustorium to effectively invade host tissues. This study focused on two APETALA2/ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR (ERF) genes and a set of the cell wall enzyme genes principally expressed during the haustorial invasion of Cuscuta campestris Yuncker. The orthogroups of the TF and cell wall enzyme genes have been implicated in the cell wall degradation and modification activities in the abscission of tomatoes, which are currently the phylogenetically closest non-parasitic model species of Cuscuta species. Although haustoria are generally thought to originate from root tissues, our results suggest that haustoria have further optimized invasion potential by recruiting regulatory modules from other biological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryusuke Yokoyama
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
- *Correspondence: Ryusuke Yokoyama,
| | | | - Takeshi Kuroha
- Division of Crop Genome Editing Research, Institute of Agrobiological Science, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Jihwan Park
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Sakai, Japan
| | - Koh Aoki
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Sakai, Japan
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