FERONIA restricts Pseudomonas in the rhizosphere microbiome via regulation of reactive oxygen species

Nat Plants. 2021 May;7(5):644-654. doi: 10.1038/s41477-021-00914-0. Epub 2021 May 10.

Abstract

Maintaining microbiome structure is critical for the health of both plants and animals. By re-screening a collection of Arabidopsis mutants affecting root immunity and hormone crosstalk, we identified a FERONIA (FER) receptor kinase mutant (fer-8) with a rhizosphere microbiome enriched in Pseudomonas fluorescens without phylum-level dysbiosis. Using microbiome transplant experiments, we found that the fer-8 microbiome was beneficial. The effect of FER on rhizosphere pseudomonads was largely independent of its immune scaffold function, role in development and jasmonic acid autoimmunity. We found that the fer-8 mutant has reduced basal levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in roots and that mutants deficient in NADPH oxidase showed elevated rhizosphere pseudomonads. The addition of RALF23 peptides, a FER ligand, was sufficient to enrich P. fluorescens. This work shows that FER-mediated ROS production regulates levels of beneficial pseudomonads in the rhizosphere microbiome.

MeSH terms

  • Arabidopsis / metabolism
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / physiology*
  • Phosphotransferases / metabolism
  • Phosphotransferases / physiology*
  • Pseudomonadaceae / metabolism
  • Pseudomonadaceae / physiology
  • Pseudomonas fluorescens / metabolism*
  • Pseudomonas fluorescens / physiology
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism*
  • Rhizosphere*
  • Soil Microbiology*

Substances

  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • FERONIA receptor like kinase, Arabidopsis
  • Phosphotransferases