RNA interference highlights the role of CCaMK in dissemination of endosymbionts in the Aeschynomeneae legume Arachis

Mapping of QTLs Associated with Biological Nitrogen Fixation Traits in Peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.) Using an Interspecific Population Derived from the Cross between the Cultivated Species and Its Wild Ancestors

Peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.) are an allotetraploid grain legume mainly cultivated by poor farmers in Africa, in degraded soil and with low input systems. Further understanding nodulation genetic mechanisms could be a relevant option to facilitate the improvement of yield and lift up soil without synthetic fertilizers. We used a subset of 83 chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) derived from the cross between a wild synthetic tetraploid AiAd (Arachis ipaensis × Arachis duranensis)4× and the cultivated variety Fleur11, and evaluated them for traits related to BNF under shade-house conditions. Three treatments were tested: without nitrogen; with nitrogen; and without nitrogen, but with added0 Bradyrhizobium vignae strain ISRA400. The leaf chlorophyll content and total biomass were used as surrogate traits for BNF. We found significant variations for both traits specially linked to BNF, and four QTLs (quantitative trait loci) were consistently mapped. At all QTLs, the wild alleles decreased the value of the trait, indicating a negative effect on BNF. A detailed characterization of the lines carrying those QTLs in controlled conditions showed that the QTLs affected the nitrogen fixation efficiency, nodule colonization, and development. Our results provide new insights into peanut nodulation mechanisms and could be used to target BNF traits in peanut breeding programs.

Nodule INception-independent epidermal events lead to bacterial entry during nodule development in peanut (Arachis hypogaea)

Legumes can host nitrogen-fixing rhizobia inside root nodules. In model legumes, rhizobia enter via infection threads (ITs) and develop nodules in which the infection zone contains a mixture of infected and uninfected cells. Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) diversified from model legumes c. 50-55 million years ago. Rhizobia enter through 'cracks' to form nodules in peanut roots where cells of the infection zone are uniformly infected. Phylogenomic studies have indicated symbiosis as a labile trait in peanut. These atypical features prompted us to investigate the molecular mechanism of peanut nodule development. Combining cell biology, genetics and genomic tools, we visualized the status of hormonal signaling in peanut nodule primordia. Moreover, we dissected the signaling modules of Nodule INception (NIN), a master regulator of both epidermal infection and cortical organogenesis. Cytokinin signaling operates in a broad zone, from the epidermis to the pericycle inside nodule primordia, while auxin signaling is narrower and focused. Nodule INception is involved in nodule organogenesis, but not in crack entry. Nodulation Pectate Lyase, which remodels cell walls during IT formation, is not required. By contrast, Nodule enhanced Glycosyl Hydrolases (AhNGHs) are recruited for cell wall modification during crack entry. While hormonal regulation is conserved, the function of the NIN signaling modules is diversified in peanut.

Nod factor perception: an integrative view of molecular communication during legume symbiosis

Compatible interaction between rhizobial Nod factors and host receptors enables initial recognition and signaling events during legume-rhizobia symbiosis. Molecular communication is a new paradigm of information relay, which uses chemical signals or molecules as dialogues for communication and has been witnessed in prokaryotes, plants as well as in animal kingdom. Understanding this fascinating relay of signals between plants and rhizobia during the establishment of a synergistic relationship for biological nitrogen fixation represents one of the hotspots in plant biology research. Predominantly, their interaction is initiated by flavonoids exuding from plant roots, which provokes changes in the expression profile of rhizobial genes. Compatible interactions promote the secretion of Nod factors (NFs) from rhizobia, which are recognised by cognate host receptors. Perception of NFs by host receptors initiates the symbiosis and ultimately leads to the accommodation of rhizobia within root nodules via a series of mutual exchange of signals. This review elucidates the bacterial and plant perspectives during the early stages of symbiosis, explicitly emphasizing the significance of NFs and their cognate NF receptors.

Molecular Mechanisms of Intercellular Rhizobial Infection: Novel Findings of an Ancient Process

Establishment of the root-nodule symbiosis in legumes involves rhizobial infection of nodule primordia in the root cortex that is dependent on rhizobia crossing the root epidermal barrier. Two mechanisms have been described: either through root hair infection threads or through the intercellular passage of bacteria. Among the legume genera investigated, around 75% use root hair entry and around 25% the intercellular entry mode. Root-hair infection thread-mediated infection has been extensively studied in the model legumes Medicago truncatula and Lotus japonicus. In contrast, the molecular circuit recruited during intercellular infection, which is presumably an ancient and simpler pathway, remains poorly known. In recent years, important discoveries have been made to better understand the transcriptome response and the genetic components involved in legumes with obligate (Aeschynomene and Arachis spp.) and conditional (Lotus and Sesbania spp.) intercellular rhizobial infections. This review addresses these novel findings and briefly considers possible future research to shed light on the molecular players that orchestrate intercellular infection in legumes.

Microscopic and Transcriptomic Analyses of Dalbergoid Legume Peanut Reveal a Divergent Evolution Leading to Nod-Factor-Dependent Epidermal Crack-Entry and Terminal Bacteroid Differentiation

Root nodule symbiosis (RNS) is the pillar behind sustainable agriculture and plays a pivotal role in the environmental nitrogen cycle. Most of the genetic, molecular, and cell-biological knowledge on RNS comes from model legumes that exhibit a root-hair mode of bacterial infection, in contrast to the Dalbergoid legumes exhibiting crack-entry of rhizobia. As a step toward understanding this important group of legumes, we have combined microscopic analysis and temporal transcriptome to obtain a dynamic view of plant gene expression during Arachis hypogaea (peanut) nodule development. We generated comprehensive transcriptome data by mapping the reads to A. hypogaea, and two diploid progenitor genomes. Additionally, we performed BLAST searches to identify nodule-induced yet-to-be annotated peanut genes. Comparison between peanut, Medicago truncatula, Lotus japonicus, and Glycine max showed upregulation of 61 peanut orthologs among 111 tested known RNS-related genes, indicating conservation in mechanisms of nodule development among members of the Papilionoid family. Unlike model legumes, recruitment of class 1 phytoglobin-derived symbiotic hemoglobin (SymH) in peanut indicates diversification of oxygen-scavenging mechanisms in the Papilionoid family. Finally, the absence of cysteine-rich motif-1-containing nodule-specific cysteine-rich peptide (NCR) genes but the recruitment of defensin-like NCRs suggest a diverse molecular mechanism of terminal bacteroid differentiation. In summary, our work describes genetic conservation and diversification in legume-rhizobia symbiosis in the Papilionoid family, as well as among members of the Dalbergoid legumes.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.

An Improvised Hairy Root Transformation Method for Efficient Gene Silencing in Roots and Nodules of Arachis hypogaea

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) is a major oilseed crop and is widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical climate zone worldwide. Peanut belongs to the Papilionoid family with an atypical nodule developmental program. In particular, rhizobia enter through developmental cracks and lead to the formation of aeschynomenoid subtype determinate nodules. Peanut nodules are efficient nitrogen-fixers and form swollen bacteroid containing symbiosomes. The allotetraploid genome and recalcitrance to stable transformation used to be the major bottleneck for peanut biologists. Recent genome sequencing of peanut cultivar Tifrunner has opened up a huge opportunity for molecular research. A composite plant contains transformed roots with a non-transformed shoot. The composite plant-based approach has already proven to be a tool of choice for high throughput studies in root biology. The available protocols failed to generate efficient hairy root transformation in the genome sequenced cultivar Tifrunner. Here we describe an efficient hairy root transformation and composite plant generation protocol for the peanut cultivar Tifrunner. Our protocol generated ~92% plant regeneration efficiency with between 21.8% and 58.6% co-transformed root regeneration. We also show that this protocol can be efficiently used for protein localization, promoter GUS analysis, monitoring hormone response, and RNAi mediated knockdown of the genes using genome sequenced cultivar Tifrunner.

Natural polymorphisms in a pair of NSP2 homoeologs can cause loss of nodulation in peanut

Microbial symbiosis in legumes is achieved through nitrogen-fixing root nodules, and these are important for sustainable agriculture. The molecular mechanisms underlying development of root nodules in polyploid legume crops are largely understudied. Through map-based cloning and QTL-seq approaches, we identified a pair of homoeologous GRAS transcription factor genes, Nodulation Signaling Pathway 2 (AhNSP2-B07 or Nb) and AhNSP2-A08 (Na), controlling nodulation in cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.), an allotetraploid legume crop, which exhibited non-Mendelian and Mendelian inheritance, respectively. The segregation of nodulation in the progeny of Nananbnb genotypes followed a 3:1 Mendelian ratio, in contrast to the 5:3~1:1 non-Mendelian ratio for nanaNbnb genotypes. Additionally, a much higher frequency of the nb allele (13%) than the na allele (4%) exists in the peanut germplasm collection, suggesting that Nb is less essential than Na in nodule organogenesis. Our findings reveal the genetic basis of naturally occurred non-nodulating peanut plants, which can be potentially used for nitrogen fixation improvement in peanut. Furthermore, the results have implications for and provide insights into the evolution of homoeologous genes in allopolyploid species.

Molecular Basis of Root Nodule Symbiosis between Bradyrhizobium and 'Crack-Entry' Legume Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Nitrogen is one of the essential plant nutrients and a major factor limiting crop productivity. To meet the requirements of sustainable agriculture, there is a need to maximize biological nitrogen fixation in different crop species. Legumes are able to establish root nodule symbiosis (RNS) with nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria which are collectively called rhizobia. This mutualistic association is highly specific, and each rhizobia species/strain interacts with only a specific group of legumes, and vice versa. Nodulation involves multiple phases of interactions ranging from initial bacterial attachment and infection establishment to late nodule development, characterized by a complex molecular signalling between plants and rhizobia. Characteristically, legumes like groundnut display a bacterial invasion strategy popularly known as "crack-entry'' mechanism, which is reported approximately in 25% of all legumes. This article accommodates critical discussions on the bacterial infection mode, dynamics of nodulation, components of symbiotic signalling pathway, and also the effects of abiotic stresses and phytohormone homeostasis related to the root nodule symbiosis of groundnut and Bradyrhizobium. These parameters can help to understand how groundnut RNS is programmed to recognize and establish symbiotic relationships with rhizobia, adjusting gene expression in response to various regulations. This review further attempts to emphasize the current understanding of advancements regarding RNS research in the groundnut and speculates on prospective improvement possibilities in addition to ways for expanding it to other crops towards achieving sustainable agriculture and overcoming environmental challenges.

Kinase activity-dependent stability of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase of Lotus japonicus

Accumulation of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CCaMK) in root cell nucleus depends on its kinase activity but not on nuclear symbiotic components crucial for nodulation. Plant calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CCaMK) is a key regulator of symbioses with rhizobia and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi as it decodes symbiotic calcium signals induced by microsymbionts. CCaMK is expressed mainly in root cells and localizes to the nucleus, where microsymbiont-triggered calcium oscillations occur. The molecular mechanisms that control CCaMK localization are unknown. Here, we analyzed the expression and subcellular localization of mutated CCaMK in the roots of Lotus japonicus and found a clear relation between CCaMK kinase activity and its stability. Kinase-defective CCaMK variants showed lower protein levels than the variants with kinase activity. The levels of transcripts driven by the CaMV 35S promoter were similar among the variants, indicating that stability of CCaMK is regulated post-translationally. We also demonstrated that CCaMK localized to the root cell nucleus in several symbiotic mutants, including cyclops, an interaction partner and phosphorylation target of CCaMK. Our results suggest that kinase activity of CCaMK is required not only for the activation of downstream symbiotic components but also for its stability in root cells.

A Toolbox for Nodule Development Studies in Chickpea: A Hairy-Root Transformation Protocol and an Efficient Laboratory Strain of Mesorhizobium sp

A Mesorhizobium sp. produces root nodules in chickpea. Chickpea and model legume Medicago truncatula are members of the inverted repeat-lacking clade (IRLC). The rhizobia, after internalization into the plant cell, are called bacteroids. Nodule-specific cysteine-rich peptides in IRLC legumes guide bacteroids to a terminally differentiated swollen (TDS) form. Bacteroids in chickpea are less TDS than those in Medicago spp. Nodule development in chickpea indicates recent evolutionary diversification and merits further study. A hairy-root transformation protocol and an efficient laboratory strain are prerequisites for performing any genetic study on nodulation. We have standardized a protocol for composite plant generation in chickpea with a transformation frequency above 50%, as shown by fluorescent markers. This protocol also works well in different ecotypes of chickpea. Localization of subcellular markers in these transformed roots is similar to the localization observed in transformed Medicago roots. When checked inside transformed nodules, peroxisomes were concentrated along the periphery of the nodules, while endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi bodies surrounded the symbiosomes. Different Mesorhizobium strains were evaluated for their ability to initiate nodule development and efficiency of nitrogen fixation. Inoculation with different strains resulted in different shapes of TDS bacteroids with variable nitrogen fixation. Our study provides a toolbox to study nodule development in the crop legume chickpea.

Lotus japonicus NOOT-BOP-COCH-LIKE1 is essential for nodule, nectary, leaf and flower development

The NOOT-BOP-COCH-LIKE (NBCL) genes are orthologs of Arabidopsis thaliana BLADE-ON-PETIOLE1/2. The NBCLs are developmental regulators essential for plant shaping, mainly through the regulation of organ boundaries, the promotion of lateral organ differentiation and the acquisition of organ identity. In addition to their roles in leaf, stipule and flower development, NBCLs are required for maintaining the identity of indeterminate nitrogen-fixing nodules with persistent meristems in legumes. In legumes forming determinate nodules, without persistent meristem, the roles of NBCL genes are not known. We thus investigated the role of Lotus japonicus NOOT-BOP-COCH-LIKE1 (LjNBCL1) in determinate nodule identity and studied its functions in aerial organ development using LORE1 insertional mutants and RNA interference-mediated silencing approaches. In Lotus, LjNBCL1 is involved in leaf patterning and participates in the regulation of axillary outgrowth. Wild-type Lotus leaves are composed of five leaflets and possess a pair of nectaries at the leaf axil. Legumes such as pea and Medicago have a pair of stipules, rather than nectaries, at the base of their leaves. In Ljnbcl1, nectary development is abolished, demonstrating that nectaries and stipules share a common evolutionary origin. In addition, ectopic roots arising from nodule vascular meristems and reorganization of the nodule vascular bundle vessels were observed on Ljnbcl1 nodules. This demonstrates that NBCL functions are conserved in both indeterminate and determinate nodules through the maintenance of nodule vascular bundle identity. In contrast to its role in floral patterning described in other plants, LjNBCL1 appears essential for the development of both secondary inflorescence meristem and floral meristem.

Silencing of Putative Cytokinin Receptor Histidine Kinase1 Inhibits Both Inception and Differentiation of Root Nodules in Arachis hypogaea

Rhizobia-legume interaction activates the SYM pathway that recruits cytokinin signaling for induction of nodule primordia in the cortex. In Arachis hypogaea, bradyrhizobia invade through natural cracks developed in the lateral root base and are directly endocytosed in the cortical cells to generate the nodule primordia. To unravel the role of cytokinin signaling in A. hypogaea, RNA-interference (RNAi) of cytokinin receptor histidine-kinase1 (AhHK1) was done. AhHK1-RNAi downregulated the expression of type-A response regulators such as AhRR5 and AhRR3 along with several symbiotic genes, indicating that both cytokinin signaling and the SYM pathway were affected. Accordingly, there was a drastic downregulation of nodulation in AhHK1-RNAi roots and the nodules that developed were ineffective. These nodules were densely packed, with infected cells having a higher nucleo-cytoplasmic ratio and distinctively high mitotic index, where the rod-shaped rhizobia failed to differentiate into bacteroids within spherical symbiosomes. In accordance with the proliferating state, expression of a mitotic-cyclin AhCycB2.1 was higher in AhHK1-RNAi nodules, whereas expression of a retinoblastoma-related (AhRBR) nodule that restrains proliferation was lower. Also, higher expression of the meristem maintenance factor WUSCHEL-RELATED HOMEOBOX5 correlated with the undifferentiated state of AhHK1-RNAi nodules. Our results suggest that AhHK1-mediated cytokinin signaling is important for both inception and differentiation during nodule development in A. hypogaea.

Gene Editing in Polyploid Crops: Wheat, Camelina, Canola, Potato, Cotton, Peanut, Sugar Cane, and Citrus

Polyploid crops make up a significant portion of the major food and fiber crops of the world and include wheat, potato, cotton, apple, peanut, citrus, and brassica oilseeds such as rape, canola, and Camelina. The presence of three sets of chromosomes in triploids, four sets in tetraploids, and six sets in hexaploids present significant challenges to conventional plant breeding and, potentially, to efficient use of rapidly emerging gene and genome-editing systems such as zinc finger nucleases, single-stranded oligonucleotides, TALE effector nucleases, and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR/Cas9). However, recent studies with each of these techniques in several polyploid crops have demonstrated facile editing of some or all of the genes targeted for modification on homeologous chromosomes. These modifications have allowed improvements in food nutrition, seed oil composition, disease resistance, weed protection, plant breeding procedures, and food safety. Plants and plant products exhibiting useful new traits created through gene editing but lacking foreign DNA may face reduced regulatory restrictions. Such plants can be obtained either by simply selecting for null segregants that have lost their editing transgenes during plant breeding or, even more attractively, by delivery of biodegradable Cas9/sgRNA ribonucleoprotein complexes (i.e., no DNA) into plant cells where they are expressed only transiently but allow for efficient gene editing-a system that has been recently demonstrated in at least two polyploid crops. Such systems that create precise mutations but leave no transgene footprint hold potential promise for assisting with the elimination or great diminution of regulatory processes that presently burden approvals of conventional transgenic crops.

Starting points in plant-bacteria nitrogen-fixing symbioses: intercellular invasion of the roots

Agricultural practices contribute to climate change by releasing greenhouse gases such as nitrous oxide that are mainly derived from nitrogen fertilizers. Therefore, understanding biological nitrogen fixation in farming systems is beneficial to agriculture and environmental preservation. In this context, a better grasp of nitrogen-fixing systems and nitrogen-fixing bacteria-plant associations will contribute to the optimization of these biological processes. Legumes and actinorhizal plants can engage in a symbiotic interaction with nitrogen-fixing rhizobia or actinomycetes, resulting in the formation of specialized root nodules. The legume-rhizobia interaction is mediated by a complex molecular signal exchange, where recognition of different bacterial determinants activates the nodulation program in the plant. To invade plants roots, bacteria follow different routes, which are determined by the host plant. Entrance via root hairs is probably the best understood. Alternatively, entry via intercellular invasion has been observed in many legumes. Although there are common features shared by intercellular infection mechanisms, differences are observed in the site of root invasion and bacterial spread on the cortex reaching and infecting a susceptible cell to form a nodule. This review focuses on intercellular bacterial invasion of roots observed in the Fabaceae and considers, within an evolutionary context, the different variants, distribution and molecular determinants involved. Intercellular invasion of actinorhizal plants and Parasponia is also discussed.

Segregation of nod-containing and nod-deficient bradyrhizobia as endosymbionts of Arachis hypogaea and as endophytes of Oryza sativa in intercropped fields of Bengal Basin, India

Bradyrhizobial invasion in dalbergoid legumes like Arachis hypogaea and endophytic bacterial invasions in non-legumes like Oryza sativa occur through epidermal cracks. Here, we show that there is no overlap between the bradyrhizobial consortia that endosymbiotically and endophytically colonise these plants. To minimise contrast due to phylogeographic isolation, strains were collected from Arachis/Oryza intercropped fields and a total of 17 bradyrhizobia from Arachis (WBAH) and 13 from Oryza (WBOS) were investigated. 16SrRNA and concatenated dnaK-glnII-recA phylogeny clustered the nodABC-positive WBAH and nodABC-deficient WBOS strains in two distinct clades. The in-field segregation is reproducible under controlled conditions which limits the factors that influence their competitive exclusion. While WBAH renodulated Arachis successfully, WBOS nodulated in an inefficient manner. Thus, Arachis, like other Aeschynomene legumes support nod-independent symbiosis that was ineffectual in natural fields. In Oryza, WBOS recolonised endophytically and promoted its growth. WBAH however caused severe chlorosis that was completely overcome when coinfected with WBOS. This explains the exclusive recovery of WBOS in Oryza in natural fields and suggests Nod-factors to have a role in counterselection of WBAH. Finally, canonical soxY1 and thiosulphate oxidation could only be detected in WBOS indicating loss of metabolic traits in WBAH with adaptation of symbiotic lifestyle.

The LysM receptor-like kinase SlLYK10 regulates the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in tomato

Most plants have the ability to establish a symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, which allows better plant nutrition. A plant signaling pathway, called the common symbiosis signaling pathway (CSSP), is essential for the establishment of both AM and root nodule symbioses. The CSSP is activated by microbial signals. Plant receptor(s) for AM fungal signals required for the activation of the CSSP and initial fungal penetration are currently unknown. We set up conditions to use virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) in Solanum lycopersicum to study the genes potentially involved in AM. We show that the lysin motif receptor-like kinase SlLYK10, whose orthologs in legumes are essential for nodulation, but not for AM, and SlCCaMK, a component of the CSSP, are required for penetration of the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis into the roots of young tomato plants. Our results support the hypothesis that the SILYK10 ancestral gene originally played a role in AM and underwent duplication and neofunctionalization for a role in nodulation in legumes. Moreover, we conclude that VIGS is an efficient method for fast screening of genes playing major roles in AM.

Sequence and expression analysis of putative Arachis hypogaea (peanut) Nod factor perception proteins

Peanut, like most legumes, develops a symbiotic relationship with rhizobia to overcome nitrogen limitation. Rhizobial infection of peanut roots occurs through a primitive and poorly characterized intercellular mechanism. Knowledge of the molecular determinants of this symbiotic interaction is scarce, and little is known about the molecules implicated in the recognition of the symbionts. Here, we identify the LysM extracellular domain sequences of two putative peanut Nod factor receptors, named AhNFR1 and AhNFP. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that they correspond to LjNFR1 and LjNFR5 homologs, respectively. Transcriptional analysis revealed that, unlike LjNFR5, AhNFP expression was not induced at 8 h post bradyrhizobial inoculation. Further examination of AhNFP showed that the predicted protein sequence is identical to GmNFR5 in two positions that are crucial for Nod factor perception in other legumes. Analysis of the AhNFP LysM2 tridimensional model revealed that these two amino acids are very close, delimiting a zone of the molecule essential for Nod factor recognition. These data, together with the analysis of the molecular structure of Nod factors of native peanut symbionts previously reported, suggest that peanut and soybean could share some of the determinants involved in the signalling cascade that allows symbiosis establishment.

Intracellular catalytic domain of symbiosis receptor kinase hyperactivates spontaneous nodulation in absence of rhizobia

Symbiosis Receptor Kinase (SYMRK), a member of the Nod factor signaling pathway, is indispensible for both nodule organogenesis and intracellular colonization of symbionts in rhizobia-legume symbiosis. Here, we show that the intracellular kinase domain of a SYMRK (SYMRK-kd) but not its inactive or full-length version leads to hyperactivation of the nodule organogenic program in Medicago truncatula TR25 (symrk knockout mutant) in the absence of rhizobia. Spontaneous nodulation in TR25/SYMRK-kd was 6-fold higher than rhizobia-induced nodulation in TR25/SYMRK roots. The merged clusters of spontaneous nodules indicated that TR25 roots in the presence of SYMRK-kd have overcome the control over both nodule numbers and their spatial position. In the presence of rhizobia, SYMRK-kd could rescue the epidermal infection processes in TR25, but colonization of symbionts in the nodule interior was significantly compromised. In summary, ligand-independent deregulated activation of SYMRK hyperactivates nodule organogenesis in the absence of rhizobia, but its ectodomain is required for proper symbiont colonization.

Autophosphorylation of gatekeeper tyrosine by symbiosis receptor kinase

Plant receptor-like kinases (RLKs) share their evolutionary origin with animal interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase (IRAK)/Pelle family of soluble kinases and are distinguished by having tyrosine as 'gatekeeper'. This position is adjacent to the hinge region and is hidden in a hydrophobic pocket of the catalytic cleft of protein kinases and is therefore least probable to be a target for any modification. This communication illustrates the accessibility of the gatekeeper site (Y670) towards both autophosphorylation and dephosphorylation in the recombinant cytoplasmic domain of symbiosis receptor kinase from Arachis hypogaea (AhSYMRK). Autophosphorylation on gatekeeper tyrosine was detected prior to extraction but never under in vitro conditions. We hypothesize gatekeeper phosphorylation to be associated with synthesis/maturation of AhSYMRK and this phenomenon may be prevalent among RLKs.

To be or noot to be: evolutionary tinkering for symbiotic organ identity

Legume plants develop symbiosis specific organs on their roots as a result of their interaction with rhizobia. These organs, called nodules, house the nitrogen fixing bacteria. The molecular mechanisms governing the identity and maintenance of this organ are still poorly understood, but it is supposed that root and nodule development share common features. We have identified the Medicago truncatula nodule root (NOOT) and Pisum sativum cochleata (COCH) orthologous genes as necessary for the robust maintenance of nodule identity throughout the nodule developmental program. NOOT and COCH are Arabidopsis blade-on-petiole (BOP) orthologs and NOOT and COCH show functions in leaf and flower development in M. truncatula and P. sativum respectively that are conserved with the functions of BOP in Arabidopsis. The characterization of the noot and coch mutants highlights the root evolutionary origin of nodule vascular strands and suggests that the NOOT and COCH genes were recruited to repress root identity in the legume symbiotic organ.

Rhizobial Nod factors are required for cortical cell division in the nodule morphogenetic programme of the Aeschynomeneae legume Arachis

Nod factors are among the best-studied molecules implicated in the signal exchange that leads to legume-rhizobia symbiosis. The role of these molecules in symbiosis development has been primarily studied in legumes invaded through infection threads. In these plants, Nod factors generate several responses required for nodulation, including the induction of cortical cell division to form the nodule primordium. Arachis hypogaea L. (peanut) exhibits a specific mode of rhizobial infection and nodule morphogenetic programme in which infection threads are never formed. The role of Nod factors in this particular mechanism is unknown. In this work, a peanut symbiont mutant strain unable to produce Nod factors was obtained and characterised. The strain Bradyrhizobium (Arachis) sp. SEMIA 6144 V2 is altered in the nodC gene, which encodes an N-acetylglucosaminyl transferase involved in the first step of the Nod factor biosynthetic pathway. Further research revealed that, although its ability to colonise peanut roots was unaffected, it is not capable of inducing the division of cortical cells. The results obtained indicate that rhizobial Nod factors are essential for the induction of cortical cell division that leads to nodule primordium formation.

The Nod factor-independent symbiotic signaling pathway: development of Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation for the legume Aeschynomene indica

The nitrogen-fixing symbiosis between Aeschynomene indica and photosynthetic bradyrhizobia is the only legume-rhizobium association described to date that does not require lipochito-oligosaccharide Nod factors (NF). To assist in deciphering the molecular basis of this NF-independent interaction, we have developed a protocol for Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation of A. indica. The cotransformation frequency (79%), the nodulation efficiency of transgenic roots (90%), and the expression pattern of the 35S Cauliflower mosaic virus promoter in transgenic nodules were all comparable to those obtained for model legumes. We have made use of this tool to monitor the heterologous spatio-temporal expression of the pMtENOD11-β-glucuronidase fusion, a widely used molecular reporter for rhizobial infection and nodulation in both legumes and actinorhizal plants. While MtENOD11 promoter activation was not observed in A. indica roots prior to nodulation, strong reporter-gene expression was observed in the invaded cells of young nodules and in the cell layers bordering the central zone of older nodules. We conclude that pMtENOD11 expression can be used as an infection-related marker in A. indica and that Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated root transformation of Aeschynomene spp. will be an invaluable tool for determining the molecular basis of the NF-independent symbiosis.

Interaction among Arachis hypogaea L. (peanut) and beneficial soil microorganisms: how much is it known?

The leguminous crop Arachis hypogaea L. (peanut) is originally from South America and then was disseminated to tropical and subtropical regions. The dissemination of the crop resulted in peanut plants establishing a symbiotic nitrogen-fixing relationship with a wide diversity of indigenous soil bacteria. We present in this review, advances on the molecular basis for the crack-entry infection process involved in the peanut-rhizobia interaction, the diversity of rhizobial and fungal antagonistic bacteria associated with peanut plants, the effect of abiotic and biotic stresses on this interaction and the response of peanut to inoculation.

Common and not so common symbiotic entry

Great advances have been made in our understanding of the host plant's common symbiosis functions, which in legumes mediate intracellular accommodation of both nitrogen-fixing bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) fungi. However, it has become apparent that additional plant genes are required specifically for bacterial entry inside the host root. In this opinion article, we consider Lotus japonicus nap1 and pir1 symbiotic mutants within the context of other deleterious mutations that impair an intracellular accommodation of bacteria but have no impact on the colonization of roots by AM fungi. We highlight a clear delineation of early signaling events during bacterial versus AM symbioses while suggesting a more intricate origin of the plant's ability for intracellular accommodation of bacteria.