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Updated: Jul 18, 2026
08:59
Plant-Microbe Interaction: Transcriptional Response of Bacillus Mycoides to Potato Root Exudates
Published on: July 2, 2018
Extracellular proteins in pea root tip and border cell exudates.
Fushi Wen1, Hans D VanEtten, George Tsaprailis
1Department of Plant Sciences, Division of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA.
Plant Physiology
|December 5, 2006
Summary
Pea root tips resist infection by the pathogen Nectria haematococca due to a secreted protein mixture from border cells. Degrading these proteins renders root tips susceptible, revealing their protective role.
Area of Science:
- Plant Pathology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Newly formed plant tissues are vulnerable to pathogen invasion.
- Pea roots inoculated with Nectria haematococca show resistance at root tips, despite lesions elsewhere.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the resistance mechanism in pea root tips against Nectria haematococca.
- To identify the role of extracellular proteins secreted by root cap border cells.
Main Methods:
- Proteolytic degradation of root cap secretome during pathogen inoculation.
- Multidimensional protein identification technology to analyze extracellular proteins.
- Comparative analysis of infected root tips with and without secretome degradation.
Main Results:
- Degradation of the root cap secretome increased root tip infection from 4% to 100%.
- The root cap secretome comprises over 100 extracellular proteins, including defense enzymes and ribosomal proteins.
- Protease treatment had no adverse effects on the fungus or plant.
Conclusions:
- The pea root cap secretes a complex protein mixture that protects the root tip from Nectria haematococca infection.
- This secretome contains known defense proteins and novel extracellular proteins, suggesting a multifaceted protective role.
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