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An SHR–SCR module specifies legume cortical cell fate to enable nodulation

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  • Wentao Dong

    (National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, SIBS, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Yayun Zhu

    (National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, SIBS, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Shanghai Normal University)

  • Huizhong Chang

    (National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, SIBS, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Shanghai Normal University)

  • Chunhua Wang

    (Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University)

  • Jun Yang

    (National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, SIBS, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Jincai Shi

    (National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, SIBS, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Jinpeng Gao

    (National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, SIBS, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Henan University)

  • Weibing Yang

    (National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, SIBS, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Liying Lan

    (National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, SIBS, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Yuru Wang

    (National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, SIBS, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Xiaowei Zhang

    (National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, SIBS, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Huiling Dai

    (National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, SIBS, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Yuchen Miao

    (Henan University)

  • Lin Xu

    (National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, SIBS, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Zuhua He

    (National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, SIBS, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Chunpeng Song

    (Henan University)

  • Shuang Wu

    (Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University)

  • Dong Wang

    (University of Massachusetts Amherst)

  • Nan Yu

    (Shanghai Normal University)

  • Ertao Wang

    (National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, SIBS, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Abstract

Legumes, unlike other plants, have the ability to establish symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing rhizobia. It has been theorized that a unique property of legume root cortical cells enabled the initial establishment of rhizobial symbiosis1–3. Here we show that a SHORTROOT–SCARECROW (SHR–SCR) stem cell program in cortical cells of the legume Medicago truncatula specifies their distinct fate. Regulatory elements drive the cortical expression of SCR, and stele-expressed SHR protein accumulates in cortical cells of M. truncatula but not Arabidopsis thaliana. The cortical SHR–SCR network is conserved across legume species, responds to rhizobial signals, and initiates legume-specific cortical cell division for de novo nodule organogenesis and accommodation of rhizobia. Ectopic activation of SHR and SCR in legumes is sufficient to induce root cortical cell division. Our work suggests that acquisition of the cortical SHR–SCR module enabled cell division coupled to rhizobial infection in legumes. We propose that this event was central to the evolution of rhizobial endosymbiosis.

Suggested Citation

  • Wentao Dong & Yayun Zhu & Huizhong Chang & Chunhua Wang & Jun Yang & Jincai Shi & Jinpeng Gao & Weibing Yang & Liying Lan & Yuru Wang & Xiaowei Zhang & Huiling Dai & Yuchen Miao & Lin Xu & Zuhua He & , 2021. "An SHR–SCR module specifies legume cortical cell fate to enable nodulation," Nature, Nature, vol. 589(7843), pages 586-590, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:589:y:2021:i:7843:d:10.1038_s41586-020-3016-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-3016-z
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