The function of NaPNRP in Nicotiana attenuata growth promotion stimulated by Piriformospora indica

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Pathogenic microorganisms and herbivorous insects use plants for their own benefit (nutrition, reproduction). However some microorganisms and insects not only benefit themselves from the interaction with plants but also the plants (e.g. by stimulating their growth or increasing resistance to environmental stresses). To react according to the type of interaction (defense or symbiosis), plants have evolved sophisticated mechanisms to recognize beneficial and non-beneficial organisms. Recent studies have suggested an overlap between the mechanisms used by plants to defend themselves from attackers and to interact with beneficial microorganisms. Our previous work has identified several genes involved in the mechanisms that plants use to recognize and respond to insect herbivores, in particular to lepidopteran larvae feeding on Nicotiana attenuata plants. The characterization of some of these genes has proven instrumental to understand the mechanisms underlying the triggering of insect-specific responses. We propose to investigate the role of the N. attenuata gene NaPNRP (Putative Nematode Resistant Protein) which was originally identified as a gene strongly induced upon lepidopteran larval feeding. However, we have recently found that NaPNRP is involved in the regulation of N. attenuata growth when stimulated by the root beneficial fungus Piriformospora indica. In this project, we propose to investigate the function of NaPNRP during fungal growth stimulation of N. attenuata plants.