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Arbuscular mycorrhiza in mini‐mycorrhizotrons: first contact of Medicago truncatula roots with Glomus intraradices induces chalcone synthase
Author(s) -
Bonanomi Athos,
Oetiker Jürg H.,
Guggenheim Richard,
Boller Thomas,
Wiemken Andres,
VögeliLange Regina
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1469-8137.2001.00135.x
Subject(s) - medicago truncatula , biology , symbiosis , chalcone synthase , mycorrhiza , glomus , botany , arbuscular mycorrhiza , genbank , gene , gene expression , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , bacteria , spore
Summary• The association of plants with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi is widespread in nature, but little is known about molecular aspects of this symbiosis. Particularly during the early stages of the AM symbiosis, it is difficult to monitor growth of the two partners, to dissect gene expression patterns and to correlate them with plant, fungal or symbiosis development. • A new system, the ‘mini‐mycorrhizotron’, was established to cultivate seedlings of Medicago truncatula in mycorrhizal symbiosis with Glomus intraradices under gnotobiotic conditions. This system allows natural growth of the symbiotic partners and permits the continuous noninvasive observation of the development of plant and fungus under a microscope. • The mini‐mycorrhizotron was used to determine the stage of induction of a mycorrhiza‐related gene detected by differential display‐reverse transcription‐PCR, namely a novel chalcone synthase ( Mt‐chs1 ). The gene is induced in roots at the stage of the first fungal contact. • The mini‐mycorrhizotron allowed identification and cloning of a symbiosis‐related gene, and the correlation between its expression and the developmental stage of the symbiosis was established. This provides a useful tool for molecular and developmental studies of the early stages of AM symbioses.Mt‐chs1 nucleotide sequence can be found at the Genbank data base (accession no. AJ277211). The following sequences were also used: Glycine max chs (X52097), chs1 (X54644); chs2 (X65635), chs3 (X53958), chs5 (L07647), chs6 (L03352), chs7 (M98871); Pisum sativum chs (X80007), chs1 (D10661), chs2 (X63334), chs3 (D88261), chs4 (D88260), chs5 (D88262), chs7 (D88263); Medicago sativa chs1 (L02901), chsI (X68106), chs2 (L02902), chs4–1 (U01018), chs8 (L02904), chs9 (L02905), 12–1 (U01021); Medicago truncatula chs1 , this work (AJ277211); Trifolium subterraneum chs1 (M91193), chs2 (M91194), chs3 (L24515), chs4 (L24516), chs5 (L24517), chs6 (M91195); Phaseolus vulgaris chs (X06411) and Vigna unguiculata chs (X74821).