RNA communication in a mutualistic microbe-plant interaction: Molecular targets and biotechnological strategies for improved crop plant production

共生共生和有益微生物是农业特别是植物生产中的关键因素。特别是，阐明宿主-微生物相互作用中互惠作用的分子机制以及有益微生物对作物植物的影响对于提高植物生产的效率和可持续发展至关重要。我们的子项目研究了禾草（Brachypodium distachyon）和拟南芥（Arabidopsis thaliana）与有益真菌Piriformospora indica （syn. Serendipita indica）相互作用中的sRNAs及其相应的靶点。因此，我们寻求对植物-真菌共生关系中的跨界RNA通信（ckRNAi）提供更深入的了解。我们选择籼稻进行研究是因为它具有前所未有的广泛寄主范围，在RU5116中使用的所有植物物种中都有定殖，不仅可以提高寄主抗性，还可以提高农艺产量。我们的宿主-微生物系统的生物学特性有机会澄清ckRNAi是否是一种策略(a)互惠真菌建立成功的有益相互作用（导致植物抗性和提高产量），以及(b)植物宿主调节有益真菌的定植。此外，根据RU5116中产生的植物-病原体相互作用数据对我们的数据进行解释，我们将收集互惠和致病相互作用中共同或不同的ckrnai相关靶点和途径的信息，这是疾病控制的一个重要方面。追求上述概述的策略将改变我们看待sRNA效应物及其在植物免疫和共生植物发育中的目标的方式。设想的结果与分子、植物和微生物生物学的所有领域相关，并将为作物保护的新解决方案奠定知识基础。

Mutualistic symbioses and beneficial microbes are a key factor in agriculture and especially in plant production. In particular, elucidating the molecular mechanisms of mutualism in host-microbe interactions and the effects of beneficial microbes on crop plants is essential for more efficient and sustainable plant production. Our subproject investigates sRNAs and their corresponding targets in the interaction of a grass- (Brachypodium distachyon) and a dicot model (Arabidopsis thaliana) with the beneficial fungus Piriformospora indica (syn. Serendipita indica). Thus, we seek to provide a deeper understanding of cross-kingdom RNA communication (ckRNAi) in a mutualistic plant-fungus association. We choose P. indica for this study because it has an unprecedented broad hosts range, colonizes all plant species used in RU5116, and increases not only host resistance but also agronomic yield. The biological property of our host-microbe system bears the chance to clarify whether ckRNAi is a strategy (a) for a mutualistic fungus to establish a successful beneficial interaction (resulting in plant resistance and increase yield), and (b) for a plant host to regulate colonization by a beneficial fungus. Moreover, by interpreting our data in the light of data generated in RU5116 for plant - pathogen interactions, we will gather information on common or different ckRNAi-related targets and pathways in mutualistic and pathogenic interactions which is an important aspect when it comes to disease control. Pursuing the above-outlined strategy will transform the way we view sRNA effectors and their targets in plant immunity and plant development during symbiosis. Envisaged outcome is relevant to all areas of molecular, plant and microbial biology and will lay the knowledge foundation for novel solutions to crop protection.