Plant immunity suppression via PHR1‐RALF‐FERONIA shapes the root microbiome to alleviate phosphate starvation. (11th February 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tang, Jing; Wu, Dousheng; Li, Xiaoxu; Wang, Lifeng; Xu, Ling; Zhang, Yi; Xu, Fan; Liu, Hongbin; Xie, Qijun; Dai, Shaojun; Coleman‐Derr, Devin; Zhu, Sirui; Yu, Feng
• Is Part Of: EMBO journal. Volume 41:Number 6(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-02-11
• Subjects: FER -- phosphate starvation response -- PHR1 -- plant immunity -- RALF; Molecular biology -- Periodicals; 572.805
• DOI: 10.15252/embj.2021109102
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0261-4189

Abstract

Abstract: The microbiome plays an important role in shaping plant growth and immunity, but few plant genes and pathways impacting plant microbiome composition have been reported. In Arabidopsis thaliana, the phosphate starvation response (PSR) was recently found to modulate the root microbiome upon phosphate (Pi) starvation through the transcriptional regulator PHR1. Here, we report that A. thaliana PHR1 directly binds to the promoters of rapid alkalinization factor (RALF) genes, and activates their expression under phosphate‐starvation conditions. RALFs in turn suppress complex formation of pathogen‐associated molecular pattern (PAMP)‐triggered immunity (PTI) receptor through FERONIA, a previously‐identified PTI modulator that increases resistance to certain detrimental microorganisms. Suppression of immunity via the PHR1‐RALF‐FERONIA axis allows colonization by specialized root microbiota that help to alleviate phosphate starvation by upregulating the expression of PSR genes. These findings provide a new paradigm for coordination of host‐microbe homeostasis through modulating plant innate immunity after environmental perturbations. Synopsis: Plants prioritize low‐Pi stress over defense against microorganisms. We show that the PHR1‐RALF‐FERONIA module is used by plants under Pi starvation to suppress immunity and shape a microbiota that alleviate Pi starvation. PHR1 directly binds to the promoters of RALFs genes and activates their expression under Pi‐starvation conditions. PHR1 balances phosphate starvation and plant immunity through the RALF‐FERONIA complex. PHR1‐RALF‐FERONIA mediated immunity suppression shapes a specialized root microbiota that alleviates the Pi starvation. Abstract : Arabidopsis PHOSPHATE STARVATION RESPONSE‐1 impinges on PAMP‐triggered immunity to allow for the growth of microorganisms that help alleviate phosphate stress.