Volatile signalling by sesquiterpenes from ectomycorrhizal fungi reprogrammes root architecture

Franck A. Ditengou, Anna Müller, Maaria Rosenkranz, Judith Felten, Hanna Lasok, Maja Miloradovic van Doorn, Valerie Legué, Klaus Palme (), Jörg-Peter Schnitzler () and Andrea Polle ()
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Franck A. Ditengou: Institute of Biology II, Faculty of Biology, Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg
Anna Müller: Forest Botany and Tree Physiology, Georg-August Universität Göttingen
Maaria Rosenkranz: Research Unit Environmental Simulation, Institute of Biochemical Plant Pathology, Helmholtz Zentrum München—German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH)
Judith Felten: Umeå Plant Science Center, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Hanna Lasok: Institute of Biology II, Faculty of Biology, Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg
Maja Miloradovic van Doorn: Research Unit Environmental Simulation, Institute of Biochemical Plant Pathology, Helmholtz Zentrum München—German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH)
Valerie Legué: INRA and Lorraine University, UMR 1136, Interactions Arbres/Micro-organismes, Centre INRA de Nancy
Klaus Palme: Institute of Biology II, Faculty of Biology, Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg
Jörg-Peter Schnitzler: Research Unit Environmental Simulation, Institute of Biochemical Plant Pathology, Helmholtz Zentrum München—German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH)
Andrea Polle: Forest Botany and Tree Physiology, Georg-August Universität Göttingen

Nature Communications, 2015, vol. 6, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract The mutualistic association of roots with ectomycorrhizal fungi promotes plant health and is a hallmark of boreal and temperate forests worldwide. In the pre-colonization phase, before direct contact, lateral root (LR) production is massively stimulated, yet little is known about the signals exchanged during this step. Here, we identify sesquiterpenes (SQTs) as biologically active agents emitted by Laccaria bicolor while interacting with Populus or Arabidopsis. We show that inhibition of fungal SQT production by lovastatin strongly reduces LR proliferation and that (–)-thujopsene, a low-abundance SQT, is sufficient to stimulate LR formation in the absence of the fungus. Further, we show that the ectomycorrhizal ascomycote, Cenococcum geophilum, which cannot synthesize SQTs, does not promote LRs. We propose that the LR-promoting SQT signal creates a win-win situation by enhancing the root surface area for plant nutrient uptake and by improving fungal access to plant-derived carbon via root exudates.

Date: 2015
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms7279

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