Pathogen-induced pH changes regulate the growth-defense balance in plants.
Christopher Kesten1, Francisco M Gámez-Arjona1, Alexandra Menna1
1Department of Biology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
The EMBO Journal
|November 19, 2019
Summary
Plants rapidly acidify cell walls upon fungal attack, slowing growth and defense. This pH shift, mediated by COMPANION OF CELLULOSE SYNTHASE proteins, links plant biomass production, immunity, and pH control.
Area of Science:
- Plant biology
- Biochemistry
- Molecular biology
Background:
- Plant adaptation requires sensing environmental signals for developmental changes.
- Cell wall remodeling is crucial for plant cell growth.
- Mechanisms linking biotic stimuli perception to plant growth and defense remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cell wall-related sensing of biotic stimuli in plants.
- To understand downstream mechanisms coordinating plant growth and defense responses.
- To analyze the role of pH in plant response to fungal infection.
Main Methods:
- Development of genetically encoded pH sensors to measure apoplastic pH.
- Application of biotic stress using the fungus Fusarium oxysporum.
- Analysis of cellulose synthesis and cell growth.
- Investigation of COMPANION OF CELLULOSE SYNTHASE protein involvement.
Main Results:
- Biotic stress induced rapid apoplastic acidification via proton pump activation.
- Acidification reduced cellulose synthesis and plant cell growth.
- pH changes influenced fungal pathogenicity.
- COMPANION OF CELLULOSE SYNTHASE proteins were critical for these pH-dependent effects.
Conclusions:
- Plant immunity and growth are interconnected through pH control.
- Apoplastic pH is a key regulator of the plant growth-defense balance.
- COMPANION OF CELLULOSE SYNTHASE proteins are central to integrating growth and defense signaling.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
02:26Defenses Against Pathogens and Herbivores
29.4K
Plants present a rich source of nutrients for many organisms, making it a target for herbivores and infectious agents. Plants, though lacking a proper immune system, have developed an array of constitutive and inducible defenses to fend off these attacks.
29.4K
02:45Responses to Heat and Cold Stress
14.6K
Every organism has an optimum temperature range within which healthy growth and physiological functioning can occur. At the ends of this range, there will be a minimum and maximum temperature that interrupt biological processes.
14.6K
02:02Responses to Salt Stress
14.2K
Salt stress—which can be triggered by high salt concentrations in a plant’s environment—can significantly affect plant growth and crop production by influencing photosynthesis and the absorption of water and nutrients.
14.2K
01:56Plant Hormones
27.0K
Plant hormones—or phytohormones—are chemical molecules that modulate one or more physiological processes of a plant. In animals, hormones are often produced in specific glands and circulated via the circulatory system. However, plants lack hormone-producing glands.
27.0K
02:00Photoreceptors and Plant Responses to Light
28.2K
Light plays a significant role in regulating the growth and development of plants. In addition to providing energy for photosynthesis, light provides other important cues to regulate a range of developmental and physiological responses in plants.
28.2K
02:19Morphogenesis
30.0K
Plant morphogenesis—the development of a plant’s form and structure—involves several overlapping developmental processes, including growth and cell differentiation. Precursor cells differentiate into specific cell types, which are organized into the tissues and organ systems that make up the functional plant.
30.0K