Plant stomatal regulation and environmental adaptation via association with the leaf microbiota

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project Area: Co-creation of plant adaptive traits via assembly of plant-microbe holobiont
• Project/Area Number: 21H05151
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Transformative Research Areas (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Review Section: Transformative Research Areas, Section (III)
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: Mine Akira 京都大学, 農学研究科, 准教授 (80793819)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-08-23 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 気孔 / 細菌 / 環境適応 / 超個体

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Stomata are microscopic pores found in the plant leaf surface. Regulation of stomatal aperture is pivotal for plants to promote photosynthetic carbon dioxide uptake, to drive systemic transport of nutrients via transpiration, and to adapt to environmental changes such as desiccation. Textbook says plants alone control stomatal aperture according to the environment. In this research project, we found that a variety of leaf symbiotic bacteria have the ability to manipulate stomatal aperture and provided some mechanistic insights into the manipulation of stomatal aperture by these symbiotic bacteria. Further, we identified a stomata-manipulating bacterium that promotes host plant growth. This study opens a new avenue in research on plant-bacteria interactions via stomata.

Free Research Field

植物微生物相互作用

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

植物は、葉の表面に存在する気孔の開度を調節することで光合成に必要なガス交換と乾燥への適応を両立し、かつ、蒸散による全身的な物質転流の駆動力を生み出している。気孔の開閉を介した生長制御や環境応答はこれまで植物の個の力として捉えられてきた。本研究では、葉に共生する細菌が植物の気孔開閉を操作し、宿主植物の生長を促進するという新規な現象を発見した。その仕組みをより深く理解することで、気孔開閉を操作する共生細菌を利用した農業技術の開発へと繋がると期待される。