Saline-alkali soil severely reduces the productivity of crops,including maize(Zea mays).Although several genes associated with saline-alkali tolerance have been identified in maize,the underlying regulatory mechanism ...Saline-alkali soil severely reduces the productivity of crops,including maize(Zea mays).Although several genes associated with saline-alkali tolerance have been identified in maize,the underlying regulatory mechanism remains elusive.Here,we report a direct link between colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi(AMF)and saline-alkali tolerance in maize.We identify s75,a natural maize mutant that cannot survive under moderate saline-alkali soil conditions or establish AM symbioses.The saline-alkali hypersensitive phenotype of s75 is caused by a 1340-bp deletion in Zm00001d033915,designated as ZmL75.This gene encodes a glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase localized in the endoplasmic reticulum,and is responsible for AMF colonization.ZmL75 expression levels in roots correspond with the root length colonization(RLC)rate during early vegetative development.Notably,the s75 mutant line shows a complete loss of AMF colonization,along with alterations in the diversity and structure of its root fungal microbiota.Conversely,overexpression of ZmL75 increases the RLC rate and enhances tolerance to saline-alkali soil conditions.These results suggest that ZmL75 is required for symbiosis with AMF,which directly improves saline-alkali tolerance.Our findings provide insights into maize-AMF interactions and offer a potential strategy for maize improvement.展开更多
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.32171947 and No.31671699)which supported this research.
文摘Saline-alkali soil severely reduces the productivity of crops,including maize(Zea mays).Although several genes associated with saline-alkali tolerance have been identified in maize,the underlying regulatory mechanism remains elusive.Here,we report a direct link between colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi(AMF)and saline-alkali tolerance in maize.We identify s75,a natural maize mutant that cannot survive under moderate saline-alkali soil conditions or establish AM symbioses.The saline-alkali hypersensitive phenotype of s75 is caused by a 1340-bp deletion in Zm00001d033915,designated as ZmL75.This gene encodes a glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase localized in the endoplasmic reticulum,and is responsible for AMF colonization.ZmL75 expression levels in roots correspond with the root length colonization(RLC)rate during early vegetative development.Notably,the s75 mutant line shows a complete loss of AMF colonization,along with alterations in the diversity and structure of its root fungal microbiota.Conversely,overexpression of ZmL75 increases the RLC rate and enhances tolerance to saline-alkali soil conditions.These results suggest that ZmL75 is required for symbiosis with AMF,which directly improves saline-alkali tolerance.Our findings provide insights into maize-AMF interactions and offer a potential strategy for maize improvement.
