Systemic induction of phosphatidylinositol-based signaling in leaves of arbuscular mycorrhizal rice plants

Most land plants form beneficial associations with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi which improves mineral nutrition, mainly phosphorus, in the host plant in exchange for photosynthetically fixed carbon. Most of our knowledge on the AM symbiosis derives from dicotyledonous species. We show that inoculation with the AM fungus Funneliformis mosseae stimulates growth and increases Pi content in leaves of rice plants (O. sativa, cv Loto, ssp japonica). Although rice is a host for AM fungi, the systemic transcriptional responses to AM inoculation, and molecular mechanisms underlying AM symbiosis in rice remain largely elusive. Transcriptomic analysis identified genes systemically regulated in leaves of mycorrhizal rice plants, including genes with functions associated with the biosynthesis of phospholipids and non-phosphorus lipids (up-regulated and down-regulated, respectively). A coordinated regulation of genes involved in the biosynthesis of phospholipids and inositol polyphosphates, and genes involved in hormone biosynthesis and signaling (jasmonic acid, ethylene) occurs in leaves of mycorrhizal rice. Members of gene families playing a role in phosphate starvation responses and remobilization of Pi were down-regulated in leaves of mycorrhizal rice. These results demonstrated that the AM symbiosis is accompanied by systemic transcriptional responses, which are potentially important to maintain a stable symbiotic relationship in rice plants.