Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / The tripartite symbiosis between Phaseolus vulgaris, arbuscular-mycorrhiza and the nodule bacteria, Rhizobia have been the focus of many studies ranging over a number of decades, however these studies have failed to answer certain questions relating the role of the symbionts in regard to host nutrition and the subsequent influence of these symbionts on the host C- economy. There is little doubt over the synergistic benefits involved in the dual inoculation of bean plants, as well as the resultant C-costs of maintaining the 2 symbionts, yet the specific contribution of the individual symbionts to the hosts overall nutrient and C-economy remain to be clarified. Thus the aim of this thesis is to help clarify these points by determining the symbiont induced photosynthetic, respiratory and nutritional changes taking place in the host. This was achieved by a series of experiments in which nodulated bean plants were split into two categories-those with and without AM colonized roots. These plants were then exposed to a range of growing conditions, including hi and low P, and a series of N treatments, ranging from zero N through to 3 mM NH/. Under these differing nutrient conditions growth, photosynthetic, respiratory, nutrient and amino acid responses were monitored, thus allowing for the determination of the symbionts influence on the host and the hosts reliance on the respective symbionts. Host reliance was noted most strongly under nutrient limiting conditions. Under low P treatment AM was the dominant symbiont as far as host C was concerned, allowing for the early establishment of the AM, thus ensuring the uptake of P for both host and nodule development. High P affected AM colonization to a greater extent than it did nodule dry weight and conversely the addition of N~ + led to a greater decrease in nodule dry weight than it did AM colonization. In spite of this decline, AM benefited the host by improving host N nutrition and relieving N-feedback inhibition of the export amino acid asparagine on BNF. These AM induced benefits did come at a cost to the host though, the dual inoculated plants had higher below ground respiratory costs and subsequently higher photosynthetic rates to compensate for the increased demand for C. The higher photosynthetic rates associated with dual inoculation were as a result of symbiont induced sink stimulation and not due to the improved nutrition of the host, as shown by the photosynthetic and nutrient response ratios. However, the respiratory costs associated with the uptake of soil nutrients were lower in AM colonized roots, thus showing an increased efficiency in nutrient gain by AM colonized roots. This improvement in host N nutrition as a result of AM colonization, coupled with the lower respiratory costs of AM nutrition led to the conclusion that under certain growing conditions nodules can become redundant and possibly parasitic.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, 2006. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Os hormônios vegetais etileno e ABA são possíveis reguladores chave do desenvolvimento das micorrizas arbusculares (MAs). O primeiro objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o desenvolvimento da MA em mutantes superprodutores e insensíveis ao etileno (epinastic e Never ripe, respectivamente) e verificar se enzimas relacionadas ao sistema de defesa vegetal são reguladas diferencialmente pelo etileno durante o desenvolvimento da simbiose A colonização de raízes de epinastic (epi) por G. clarum foi significativamente reduzida quando comparada com Micro-Tom (MT), além disso, a funcionalidade da simbiose, demonstrada pelo acúmulo de transcritos de LePT4, foi fortemente reduzida quando comparada com MT. Por outro lado, o padrão de colonização e funcionalidade da simbiose no mutante Nr não diferiu de MT. Indução no acúmulo de transcritos de genes que codificam quitinases e enzimas relacionadas ao estresse oxidativo foi observada no mutante epi, enquanto o acúmulo de transcritos de uma -1,3-glucanase foi fortemente induzido no mutante Nr. O segundo objetivo foi verificar se a colonização reduzida observada em mutantes deficientes em ABA é dependente da produção do etileno. Para tanto, mutantes que diferem na deficiência de ABA e produzem diferentes quantidades de etileno (notabilis e sitiens) e o mutante epi foram inoculados com G. clarum e tratados com aminoethoxivinilglicina (AVG), um inibidor de etileno. A colonização intrarradicular de G. clarum nos mutantes epi e notabilis (not) foi significativamente reduzida quando comparada com MT, sendo que o mutante sitiens (sit) foi o menos susceptível à colonização em relação aos demais genótipos. A aplicação de AVG a 10 µM restaurou completamente a colonização em epi, mas não nos mutantes deficientes em ABA. O acúmulo de transcritos de LePT4 confirmou os resultados de colonização. Os genes que codificam enzimas chave na biossíntese do etileno, LeACS2 e LeACO4, foram regulados positivamente pela inoculação com G. clarum, e a restauração do desenvolvimento da MA observada em epi que recebeu AVG, provavelmente envolveu ACC oxidase (LeACO4). O acúmulo de transcritos dos genes que codificam ACC oxidase (LeACO1 e LeACO4) foi induzido significativamente em sit, mostrando que a superprodução de etileno observada neste mutante pode envolver a regulação da ACC oxidase. Por fim, indução no acúmulo de transcritos do gene LeNCED foi observada em todos os genótipos micorrizados e em raízes de epi que receberam AVG, demonstrando que LeNCED é regulado positivamente pela inoculação com G. clarum e que o etileno regula a expressão deste gene. Os resultados demonstram que etileno e ABA estão envolvidos na regulação do desenvolvimento de MA e que etileno modula a expressão de genes relacionados ao sistema de defesa vegetal permitindo o estabelecimento de uma simbiose funcional. / The plant hormones ethylene and ABA are probably key developmental regulators of arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM). The first objective of this work was to evaluate the development of MA in overproducing and insensitive mutants to ethylene (epinastic and Never ripe, respectively) and verify if enzymes related to plant defense system are differentially regulated by ethylene during the symbiosis development. The colonization of epinastic (epi) roots by G. clarum was significantly reduced when compared with Micro-Tom (MT), moreover, the functionality of the symbiosis as demonstrated by transcripts accumulation of LePT4, was strongly reduced when compared with MT. Still, the pattern of colonization and functionality of the symbiosis in the Nr mutant did not differ from MT. Induction in the transcripts accumulation of genes encoding chitinase and enzymes related to oxidative stress was observed in epi mutant, whereas transcripts accumulation of -1, 3-glucanase was strongly induced in the Nr mutant. The second objective was to determine whether the reduced colonization observed in mutants deficient in ABA is dependent on ethylene production. For this purpose, mutants that differ in ABA deficiency and produce different amounts of ethylene (notabilis and sitiens) and the epi mutant were inoculated with G. clarum and treated with an ethylene inhibitor called aminoethoxivinilglicin (AVG). The intraradical colonization of G. clarum in epi and notabilis (not) mutants was significantly reduced when compared with MT and sitiens mutant was less susceptible to colonization in comparison with other genotypes. The application of AVG to 10 µM completely restored the colonization in the epi but not in mutants deficient in ABA. The transcripts accumulation of LePT4 confirmed the results of colonization. The genes that encode key enzymes in the biosynthesis of ethylene, LeACS2 and LeACO4, were positively regulated by inoculation with G. clarum and the restoration in the development of MA observed in epi which received AVG probably involved ACC oxidase (LeACO4). Transcripts accumulation of genes that encode ACC oxidase (LeACO1 and LeACO4) were induced significantly in sit showing that overproduction of ethylene in this mutant can involve ACC oxidase. Finally, the induction in the accumulation of gene transcripts LeNCED was observed in all genotypes and mycorrhizal roots of epi which received AVG demonstrating that LeNCED is regulated positively by the inoculation with G. clarum and that ethylene regulates the expression of this gene. Results show that ethylene and ABA are involved in regulating of MA development and ethylene modulates the expression of genes related to the plant defense system allowing the establishment and functionality of the symbiosis.

Os hormônios vegetais etileno e ABA são possíveis reguladores chave do desenvolvimento das micorrizas arbusculares (MAs). O primeiro objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o desenvolvimento da MA em mutantes superprodutores e insensíveis ao etileno (epinastic e Never ripe, respectivamente) e verificar se enzimas relacionadas ao sistema de defesa vegetal são reguladas diferencialmente pelo etileno durante o desenvolvimento da simbiose A colonização de raízes de epinastic (epi) por G. clarum foi significativamente reduzida quando comparada com Micro-Tom (MT), além disso, a funcionalidade da simbiose, demonstrada pelo acúmulo de transcritos de LePT4, foi fortemente reduzida quando comparada com MT. Por outro lado, o padrão de colonização e funcionalidade da simbiose no mutante Nr não diferiu de MT. Indução no acúmulo de transcritos de genes que codificam quitinases e enzimas relacionadas ao estresse oxidativo foi observada no mutante epi, enquanto o acúmulo de transcritos de uma -1,3-glucanase foi fortemente induzido no mutante Nr. O segundo objetivo foi verificar se a colonização reduzida observada em mutantes deficientes em ABA é dependente da produção do etileno. Para tanto, mutantes que diferem na deficiência de ABA e produzem diferentes quantidades de etileno (notabilis e sitiens) e o mutante epi foram inoculados com G. clarum e tratados com aminoethoxivinilglicina (AVG), um inibidor de etileno. A colonização intrarradicular de G. clarum nos mutantes epi e notabilis (not) foi significativamente reduzida quando comparada com MT, sendo que o mutante sitiens (sit) foi o menos susceptível à colonização em relação aos demais genótipos. A aplicação de AVG a 10 µM restaurou completamente a colonização em epi, mas não nos mutantes deficientes em ABA. O acúmulo de transcritos de LePT4 confirmou os resultados de colonização. Os genes que codificam enzimas chave na biossíntese do etileno, LeACS2 e LeACO4, foram regulados positivamente pela inoculação com G. clarum, e a restauração do desenvolvimento da MA observada em epi que recebeu AVG, provavelmente envolveu ACC oxidase (LeACO4). O acúmulo de transcritos dos genes que codificam ACC oxidase (LeACO1 e LeACO4) foi induzido significativamente em sit, mostrando que a superprodução de etileno observada neste mutante pode envolver a regulação da ACC oxidase. Por fim, indução no acúmulo de transcritos do gene LeNCED foi observada em todos os genótipos micorrizados e em raízes de epi que receberam AVG, demonstrando que LeNCED é regulado positivamente pela inoculação com G. clarum e que o etileno regula a expressão deste gene. Os resultados demonstram que etileno e ABA estão envolvidos na regulação do desenvolvimento de MA e que etileno modula a expressão de genes relacionados ao sistema de defesa vegetal permitindo o estabelecimento de uma simbiose funcional. / The plant hormones ethylene and ABA are probably key developmental regulators of arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM). The first objective of this work was to evaluate the development of MA in overproducing and insensitive mutants to ethylene (epinastic and Never ripe, respectively) and verify if enzymes related to plant defense system are differentially regulated by ethylene during the symbiosis development. The colonization of epinastic (epi) roots by G. clarum was significantly reduced when compared with Micro-Tom (MT), moreover, the functionality of the symbiosis as demonstrated by transcripts accumulation of LePT4, was strongly reduced when compared with MT. Still, the pattern of colonization and functionality of the symbiosis in the Nr mutant did not differ from MT. Induction in the transcripts accumulation of genes encoding chitinase and enzymes related to oxidative stress was observed in epi mutant, whereas transcripts accumulation of -1, 3-glucanase was strongly induced in the Nr mutant. The second objective was to determine whether the reduced colonization observed in mutants deficient in ABA is dependent on ethylene production. For this purpose, mutants that differ in ABA deficiency and produce different amounts of ethylene (notabilis and sitiens) and the epi mutant were inoculated with G. clarum and treated with an ethylene inhibitor called aminoethoxivinilglicin (AVG). The intraradical colonization of G. clarum in epi and notabilis (not) mutants was significantly reduced when compared with MT and sitiens mutant was less susceptible to colonization in comparison with other genotypes. The application of AVG to 10 µM completely restored the colonization in the epi but not in mutants deficient in ABA. The transcripts accumulation of LePT4 confirmed the results of colonization. The genes that encode key enzymes in the biosynthesis of ethylene, LeACS2 and LeACO4, were positively regulated by inoculation with G. clarum and the restoration in the development of MA observed in epi which received AVG probably involved ACC oxidase (LeACO4). Transcripts accumulation of genes that encode ACC oxidase (LeACO1 and LeACO4) were induced significantly in sit showing that overproduction of ethylene in this mutant can involve ACC oxidase. Finally, the induction in the accumulation of gene transcripts LeNCED was observed in all genotypes and mycorrhizal roots of epi which received AVG demonstrating that LeNCED is regulated positively by the inoculation with G. clarum and that ethylene regulates the expression of this gene. Results show that ethylene and ABA are involved in regulating of MA development and ethylene modulates the expression of genes related to the plant defense system allowing the establishment and functionality of the symbiosis.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniv., 2007. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

réalisé en cotutelle avec la Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, Université Tunis El Manar. / Le pois chiche (Cicer arietinum L.) a l’avantage de pouvoir assimiler l'azote atmosphérique grâce à son association symbiotique avec des bactéries du genre Mesorhizobium. Malgré cet effet bénéfique sur les systèmes culturaux, le pois chiche réduit parfois la productivité du blé qui la suit. Cet effet négatif du pois chiche pourrait provenir d’une réaction allélopathique à ses exsudats racinaires ou résidus, ou de changements inopportuns dans la communauté microbienne du sol induits par la plante. L'amélioration des interactions symbiotiques du pois chiche pourrait améliorer la performance économique et environnementale des systèmes culturaux basés sur le blé. L’objectif à long terme de ce travail est d'améliorer l’influence du pois chiches sur son environnement biologique et sur la productivité du système cultural. À court terme, nous voulons 1) vérifier l'effet des champignons endophytes sur la performance de cultivars de pois chiche de type desi et kabuli, particulièrement en conditions de stress hydrique, ainsi que sur celle d’une culture subséquente de blé dur, 2) identifier des cultivars de pois chiche capables d’améliorer la qualité biologique de sols cultivés, 3) vérifier que des composés biologiquement actifs sont présents dans les racines des différents cultivars de pois chiches et 4) définir la nature de l’activité (stimulation ou inhibition) des ces composés sur les champignons endomycorhiziens à arbuscules (CMA), qui sont des microorganismes bénéfiques du sol reconnus. L’inoculation du pois chiche avec des champignons endophytes indigènes en serre a augmenté la tolérance à la sécheresse du cultivar de type kabuli à feuille simple CDC Xena et amélioré la nutrition azotée et phosphatée d’un cultivar de type desi, cv. CDC Nika, cultivé en conditions de stress hydrique. La germination des graines de blé dur fut meilleure lorsque celles-ci étaient semées dans les débris de pois chiche inoculé de type kabuli. Le sol dans lequel le génotype de pois chiche à feuille simple CDC Xena fut cultivé mais duquel tout le matériel végétal de pois chiche fut retiré a fortement inhibé la germination des semences de blé dur, ce qui suggère un effet des exsudats racinaires sur la communauté microbienne du sol associée à cette variété de pois chiche. En champ, les cultivars de pois chiche ont influencé différemment la composition des communautés de champignons de la rhizosphère. Les espèces de champignons pathogènes étaient infréquentes et les espèces saprotrophiques et de CMA étaient fréquentes dans la zone des racines du cultivar de type desi CDC Anna. L’effet des composés contenus dans les fractions séparées par HPLC et solubles en solution de méthanol à 25% et 50% de l’extrait racinaire de ce cultivar sur la germination de spores de CMA a été testé in vitro. Les deux espèces de CMA utilisées ont répondu différemment à l’exposition aux composés testés, révélant un mécanisme impliqué dans l’association préférentielle entre les plantes hôtes et les CMA qui leurs sont associés. Nous concluons que le génotype de pois chiche influence la composition de la communauté microbienne qui lui est associée et que cette influence est reliée au moins en partie aux molécules bioactives produites par les racines de la plante. D’autre part, la productivité du pois chiche et de la culture subséquente pourrait être favorisée par la manipulation de leurs champignons endophytes par inoculation. / Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) has the ability to bring free N into cropping systems, but is only a fair rotation crop, leading to lower yield in following wheat crops, as compared to medic, vetch or lentil. The negative effects of a chickpea plant on the following wheat crops could come from chickpea root exudates, their residues or their influence on the soil microbial community. The identification of chickpea cultivars best able to promote soil biological quality and the growth of a subsequent crop in rotation will help farmers in selecting better crop rotations and, thus, will improve crop management in soil zone growing chickpea. The global objective of this research is to improve the fitness of chickpea crops to their biological environment and to improve the ability of the plant to enhance soil biological quality. The specific objectives were (1) to verify that the productivity of chickpea and subsequent crops could be promoted through the inoculation by some indigenous endophytic fungi particularly under drought stress conditions (2) to verify the existence of variation in the rhizospheric associations of field-grown chickpea, as it is a necessary condition for the selection of genotypes with improved compatibility with beneficial microorganisms. (3) to identify the biologically active compounds present in the root extracts of chickpea cultivars with contrasting phenotypes, and assess their effect on beneficial and pathogenic soil microorganisms. The greenhouse experiments show that inoculation with indigenous endophytes increased drought tolerance of the unifoliate Kabuli chickpea CDC Xena and the N and P nutrition of the drought stressed Desi chickpea CDC Nika. Inoculation of both Kabuli chickpea varieties with indigenous endophytes improved wheat seeds germination in tissues amended soil. Residue-free soil previously growing the unifoliate Kabuli chickpea CDC Xena strongly inhibited durum seed germination suggesting an effect of root exudates on the soil microbial community, with this Kabuli chickpea variety. In a field experiment, the fungal diversity in cultivated Prairie dryland appeared to host a large array of fungal groups known to reduced plant nutrient, water and biotic stresses, and chickpea genotypes influenced differently the composition and biomass of the soil microbial community. The Desi chickpea CDC Anna was associated with high diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and culturable fungi, favored the proliferation of soil bacteria and fungal genus hosting biocontrol agents, and developed high AM root colonization level, as compared to the three Kabuli genotypes examined. The HPLC fractions of the roots of chickpea cultivar CDC Anna were recovered and the effects of these fractions on AM fungal spore germination were assayed in multi-well plates. Root extract fractions affect in a different ways the percentage of spores’ germination of Glomus etunicatum and Gigaspora Rosea. We concluded that the genotype of chickpea plants influences the composition of the associated microbial community, and this influence may be related to molecular signals produced by the plants. Furthermore, the productivity of chickpea and subsequent crops could be promoted through the inoculation with indigenous endophytic fungi.

Le pois chiche (Cicer arietinum L.) a l’avantage de pouvoir assimiler l'azote atmosphérique grâce à son association symbiotique avec des bactéries du genre Mesorhizobium. Malgré cet effet bénéfique sur les systèmes culturaux, le pois chiche réduit parfois la productivité du blé qui la suit. Cet effet négatif du pois chiche pourrait provenir d’une réaction allélopathique à ses exsudats racinaires ou résidus, ou de changements inopportuns dans la communauté microbienne du sol induits par la plante. L'amélioration des interactions symbiotiques du pois chiche pourrait améliorer la performance économique et environnementale des systèmes culturaux basés sur le blé. L’objectif à long terme de ce travail est d'améliorer l’influence du pois chiches sur son environnement biologique et sur la productivité du système cultural. À court terme, nous voulons 1) vérifier l'effet des champignons endophytes sur la performance de cultivars de pois chiche de type desi et kabuli, particulièrement en conditions de stress hydrique, ainsi que sur celle d’une culture subséquente de blé dur, 2) identifier des cultivars de pois chiche capables d’améliorer la qualité biologique de sols cultivés, 3) vérifier que des composés biologiquement actifs sont présents dans les racines des différents cultivars de pois chiches et 4) définir la nature de l’activité (stimulation ou inhibition) des ces composés sur les champignons endomycorhiziens à arbuscules (CMA), qui sont des microorganismes bénéfiques du sol reconnus. L’inoculation du pois chiche avec des champignons endophytes indigènes en serre a augmenté la tolérance à la sécheresse du cultivar de type kabuli à feuille simple CDC Xena et amélioré la nutrition azotée et phosphatée d’un cultivar de type desi, cv. CDC Nika, cultivé en conditions de stress hydrique. La germination des graines de blé dur fut meilleure lorsque celles-ci étaient semées dans les débris de pois chiche inoculé de type kabuli. Le sol dans lequel le génotype de pois chiche à feuille simple CDC Xena fut cultivé mais duquel tout le matériel végétal de pois chiche fut retiré a fortement inhibé la germination des semences de blé dur, ce qui suggère un effet des exsudats racinaires sur la communauté microbienne du sol associée à cette variété de pois chiche. En champ, les cultivars de pois chiche ont influencé différemment la composition des communautés de champignons de la rhizosphère. Les espèces de champignons pathogènes étaient infréquentes et les espèces saprotrophiques et de CMA étaient fréquentes dans la zone des racines du cultivar de type desi CDC Anna. L’effet des composés contenus dans les fractions séparées par HPLC et solubles en solution de méthanol à 25% et 50% de l’extrait racinaire de ce cultivar sur la germination de spores de CMA a été testé in vitro. Les deux espèces de CMA utilisées ont répondu différemment à l’exposition aux composés testés, révélant un mécanisme impliqué dans l’association préférentielle entre les plantes hôtes et les CMA qui leurs sont associés. Nous concluons que le génotype de pois chiche influence la composition de la communauté microbienne qui lui est associée et que cette influence est reliée au moins en partie aux molécules bioactives produites par les racines de la plante. D’autre part, la productivité du pois chiche et de la culture subséquente pourrait être favorisée par la manipulation de leurs champignons endophytes par inoculation. / Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) has the ability to bring free N into cropping systems, but is only a fair rotation crop, leading to lower yield in following wheat crops, as compared to medic, vetch or lentil. The negative effects of a chickpea plant on the following wheat crops could come from chickpea root exudates, their residues or their influence on the soil microbial community. The identification of chickpea cultivars best able to promote soil biological quality and the growth of a subsequent crop in rotation will help farmers in selecting better crop rotations and, thus, will improve crop management in soil zone growing chickpea. The global objective of this research is to improve the fitness of chickpea crops to their biological environment and to improve the ability of the plant to enhance soil biological quality. The specific objectives were (1) to verify that the productivity of chickpea and subsequent crops could be promoted through the inoculation by some indigenous endophytic fungi particularly under drought stress conditions (2) to verify the existence of variation in the rhizospheric associations of field-grown chickpea, as it is a necessary condition for the selection of genotypes with improved compatibility with beneficial microorganisms. (3) to identify the biologically active compounds present in the root extracts of chickpea cultivars with contrasting phenotypes, and assess their effect on beneficial and pathogenic soil microorganisms. The greenhouse experiments show that inoculation with indigenous endophytes increased drought tolerance of the unifoliate Kabuli chickpea CDC Xena and the N and P nutrition of the drought stressed Desi chickpea CDC Nika. Inoculation of both Kabuli chickpea varieties with indigenous endophytes improved wheat seeds germination in tissues amended soil. Residue-free soil previously growing the unifoliate Kabuli chickpea CDC Xena strongly inhibited durum seed germination suggesting an effect of root exudates on the soil microbial community, with this Kabuli chickpea variety. In a field experiment, the fungal diversity in cultivated Prairie dryland appeared to host a large array of fungal groups known to reduced plant nutrient, water and biotic stresses, and chickpea genotypes influenced differently the composition and biomass of the soil microbial community. The Desi chickpea CDC Anna was associated with high diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and culturable fungi, favored the proliferation of soil bacteria and fungal genus hosting biocontrol agents, and developed high AM root colonization level, as compared to the three Kabuli genotypes examined. The HPLC fractions of the roots of chickpea cultivar CDC Anna were recovered and the effects of these fractions on AM fungal spore germination were assayed in multi-well plates. Root extract fractions affect in a different ways the percentage of spores’ germination of Glomus etunicatum and Gigaspora Rosea. We concluded that the genotype of chickpea plants influences the composition of the associated microbial community, and this influence may be related to molecular signals produced by the plants. Furthermore, the productivity of chickpea and subsequent crops could be promoted through the inoculation with indigenous endophytic fungi. / réalisé en cotutelle avec la Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, Université Tunis El Manar.