Dissecting and Engineering symbiosis signalling 
G. OLDROYD (1) (1) John Innes Centre, United Kingdom

The ability to take up mineral nutrients, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus, is generally the major limitation to plant growth. A number of plant species have evolved beneficial interactions with micro-organisms that facilitate the uptake of these nutrients. Legumes form symbiotic interactions with mycorrhizal fungi that facilitate phosphate uptake and with rhizobial bacteria that provide the plant with a source of nitrogen. The establishment of these symbioses involves a molecular communication between the plant and the symbiotic micro-organisms in the soil. Mycorrhizal fungi and rhizobial bacteria release signals that are recognised by the host plant and lead to developmental changes associated with the accommodation of the symbionts. Genetic dissection in legumes has defined the signalling pathways involved in these symbioses and this signalling process involves oscillations in calcium within the nuclear region. Our work has been focused on understanding how plant perception of symbiotic signalling molecules leads to the activation of nuclear calcium oscillations and how the perception of these calcium oscillations drives the developmental changes associated with symbiosis. Using this knowledge on the symbiotic systems of legumes we are attempting to engineer these signalling processes into cereal crops as the first step in engineering nitrogen-fixing cereals.


Abstract Number: P1-4
Session Type: Plenary