Genetics and Molecular Biology (Sep 2023)

Effects on gene expression during maize-Azospirillum interaction in the presence of a plant-specific inhibitor of indole-3-acetic acid production

  • Eliandro Espindula,
  • Edilena Reis Sperb,
  • Brenda Mor,
  • Vânia Carla Silva Pankievicz,
  • Thalita Regina Tuleski,
  • Michelle Zibetti Tadra-Sfeir,
  • Paloma Bonato,
  • Camila Scheid,
  • Josias Merib,
  • Emanuel Maltempi de Souza,
  • Luciane Maria Pereira Passaglia

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-4685-gmb-2023-0100
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 46, no. 3 suppl 1

Abstract

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Abstract Amongst the sustainable alternatives to increase maize production is the use of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB). Azospirillum brasilense is one of the most well-known PGPB being able to fix nitrogen and produce phytohormones, especially indole-3-acetic acid - IAA. This work investigated if there is any contribution of the bacterium to the plant’s IAA levels, and how it affects the plant. To inhibit plant IAA production, yucasin, an inhibitor of the TAM/YUC pathway, was applied. Plantlets’ IAA concentration was evaluated through HPLC and dual RNA-Seq was used to analyze gene expression. Statistical differences between the group treated with yucasin and the other groups showed that A. brasilense inoculation was able to prevent the phenotype caused by yucasin concerning the number of lateral roots. Genes involved in the auxin and ABA response pathways, auxin efflux transport, and the cell cycle were regulated by the presence of the bacterium, yucasin, or both. Genes involved in the response to biotic/abiotic stress, plant disease resistance, and a D-type cellulose synthase changed their expression pattern among two sets of comparisons in which A. brasilense acted as treatment. The results suggest that A. brasilense interferes with the expression of many maize genes through an IAA-independent pathway.

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