Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis affects the grain proteome of Zea mays: a field study

Sci Rep. 2016 May 24:6:26439. doi: 10.1038/srep26439.

Abstract

Maize is one of the most important crops worldwide and is strongly dependent on arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) fungi, organisms that form a mutualistic association with land plants. In maize, AM symbiosis enhances spike dry weight, spike length, spike circumference, and the dry weight and dimensions of the grain. Notwithstanding its ubiquitous nature, the detailed relationship between AM fungal colonization and plant development is not completely understood. To facilitate a better understanding of the effects of AM fungi on plants, the work reported here assessed the effects of a consortium of AM fungi on the kernel proteome of maize, cultivated in open-field conditions. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the modulation of a plant seed proteome following AM fungal inoculation in the field. Here, it was found that AM fungi modify the maize seed proteome by up-regulating enzymes involved in energetic metabolism, embryo development, nucleotide metabolism, seed storage and stress responses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Crops, Agricultural / growth & development
  • Crops, Agricultural / metabolism
  • Crops, Agricultural / microbiology
  • Edible Grain / growth & development
  • Edible Grain / metabolism
  • Edible Grain / microbiology
  • Energy Metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
  • Mycorrhizae / physiology*
  • Plant Proteins / metabolism*
  • Plant Roots / growth & development
  • Plant Roots / metabolism
  • Plant Roots / microbiology
  • Proteomics / methods*
  • Stress, Physiological
  • Symbiosis
  • Zea mays / growth & development*
  • Zea mays / metabolism
  • Zea mays / microbiology

Substances

  • Plant Proteins