Molecular mechanism of ethylene on the regulation of haustorium development and function in parasitic plants

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K15142
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Plant molecular biology/Plant physiology
• Research Institution: Nara Institute of Science and Technology
• Principal Investigator: Cui Songkui 奈良先端科学技術大学院大学, 研究推進機構, 博士研究員 (20712532)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: Parasitic plant / Haustorium / Ethylene signaling

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Parasitic plants are one of major agricultural constraints worldwide and use a specialized organ, haustorium, to penetrate host for acquisition of water and nutrients. To date, molecular mechanisms behind how parasitic plants recognize and penetrate host tissue remains unknown. In this study we used model parasitic plant Phtheirospermum japonicum and isolated two mutants defective in ethylene signaling due to mutations in ethylene receptor ETR1 and signaling component EIN2, respectively. This research demonstrats that ethylene signaling in parasitic plant plays an essential role in host infection through regulation of cell division and cell differentiation at haustorial apex. On host side, ethylene also contribute on infection rate and thus confers host susceptibility against parasitic plants.

Free Research Field

植物生理

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

寄生植物は他の植物に寄生し水と栄養を奪う植物である。作物にも寄生できるため、年間１兆円もの農業被害が出ていると推測されている。他の植物に侵入するために吸器と呼ばれる器官を形成するが、その侵入メカニズムについて多くのことがわかっていない。本研究により、寄生に関わる必要な遺伝子の同定やそのシグナル伝達の解明と寄生阻害物質を見つけることができた。これらの成果により農業被害の減少が期待される。