A host-specific bacteria-to-plant signal molecule (Nod factor) enhances germination and early growth of diverse crop
B Prithiviraj1, X Zhou, A Souleimanov
1Plant Science Department, Macdonald Campus, McGill University, 21111 Lakeshore Road, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, H9X 3V9, Canada.
Abstract:
Lipo-chitooligosaccharides (LCOs), or Nod factors, are host-specific bacteria-to-plant signal molecules essential for the establishment of a successful N(2)-fixing legume-rhizobia symbiosis. At submicromolar concentrations Nod factors induce physiological changes in host and non-host plants. Here we show that the Nod factor Nod Bj V(C18:1,MeFuc) of Bradyrhizobium japonicum 532C enhances germination of a variety of economically important plants belonging to diverse botanical families: Zea mays, Oryza sativa (Poaceae), Beta vulgaris (Chenopodaceae), Glycine max, Phaseolus vulgaris (Fabaceae), and Gossypium hirsutum (Malvaceae), under laboratory, greenhouse and field conditions. Similar increases in germination were observed for filtrates of genistein-induced cultures of B. japonicum 532C, while non-induced B. japonicum, induced Bj 168 (a nodC mutant of B. japonicum deficient in Nod factor synthesis) or the pentamer of chitin did not invoke such responses, demonstrating the role of Nod factor in the observed effects. In addition, three out of four synthetic LCOs evaluated also promoted germination of corn, soybean and Arabidopsis thaliana seeds. LCO also enhanced the early growth of corn seedlings under greenhouse conditions. These findings suggest the possible use of LCOs for improved crop production.
More Related Videos
11:16A Hydroponic Co-cultivation System for Simultaneous and Systematic Analysis of Plant/Microbe Molecular Interactions and Signaling
Published on: July 22, 2017
10:58Plant Promoter Analysis: Identification and Characterization of Root Nodule Specific Promoter in the Common Bean
Published on: December 23, 2017
Related Concept Videos
The Roles of Bacteria and Fungi in Plant Nutrition
Plant Breeding and Biotechnology
Transgenic Plants
The first-ever transgenic plant was a tobacco plant developed in 1983 that showed resistance against the tobacco mosaic virus. Since then, many transgenic plants have been developed and commercialized for improving the agricultural, ornamental, and horticultural value of a crop plant. Transgenic...
Cell Signaling in Plants
Microbial Interactions: Cooperation
Microbe-Plant Interactions
