Plant Receptor-Like Kinase controls completion of fungal life cycle in symbiosis

Exciting new research from the Paszkowski lab has been published in Nature Communications Roth et al, 2019 reporting the identification of a novel signaling component during arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis. The Ser/Thr kinase, called ARK1 occurs only during the most intimate stage of the interaction when the fungus forms complex tree-like structures, the arbuscules, inside root cortex cells. Interestingly, this plant encoded protein is indispensable for the completion of the fungal life-cycle but is not required for the formation of the arbuscules. Roth et al thereby define a new plant-controlled stage in AM symbiosis that post-arbuscule development is critical for the continuity of this naturally prevalent beneficial association.

Read online: Roth R, Chiapello M, Montero H, Gehrig P, Grossmann J, O'Holleran K, Hartken D, Walters F, Yang S, Hillmer S, Schumacher K, Bowden S, Craze M, Wallington EJ, Miyao A, Sawers R, Martinoia E, Paszkowski U. (2018) A rice Serine/Threonine receptor-like kinase regulates arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis at the peri-arbuscular membrane. Nature Communications.