The Early Stages in the Interaction Between Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plants

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9723982 Hirsch In contrast to the Rhizobium-plant symbiosis which has been studied extensively, the association of mycorrhizal symbioses is less well known. Mycorrhizae enable plants to colonize phosphorus-poor soils, are ubiquitous, and contribute significantly to plant productivity. The project originates from the recognition of VAM-fungi inducing the expression of genes in plants where these genes are also induced by Rhizobium. Alfalfa plants will be studied for their early responses to the VAM fungi. After inoculation, the infection process will be followed and the timing and expression pattern of several selected plant genes will be analyzed. It is proposed using the expression of early nodulin genes as molecular markers for developing a bioassay to detect the putative Myc-factor, i.e., a chemical signal that induces plant gene expression in VA-mycorrhizal roots, and is involved in establishing the symbiosis.