Long-lasting impact of chito-oligosaccharide application on strigolactone biosynthesis and fungal accommodation promotes arbuscular mycorrhiza in Medicago truncatula

O_LIThe establishment of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) between plants and Glomeromycotina fungi is preceded by the exchange of chemical signals: fungal released Myc-factors, including chitoligosaccharides (CO) and lipo-chitooligosaccharides (LCO), activate plant symbiotic responses, while root exuded strigolactones stimulate hyphal branching and boost CO release. C_LIO_LIFurthermore, fungal signaling reinforcement through CO application was shown to promote AM development in Medicago truncatula, but the cellular and molecular bases of this effect remained unclear. C_LIO_LIHere we focused on long-term M. truncatula responses to CO treatment, demonstrating its impact on the transcriptome of both mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal roots over several weeks and providing a novel insight into the mechanistic bases of the CO-dependent promotion of AM colonization. C_LIO_LICO treatment caused the long-lasting regulation of strigolactone biosynthesis and fungal accommodation related genes. This was mirrored by an increase in root didehydro-orobanchol content, and the promotion of accommodation responses to AM fungi in root epidermal cells. Lastly, an advanced down-regulation of AM symbiosis marker genes was observed at the latest time point in CO-treated plants, in line with an increased number of senescent arbuscules. C_LIO_LIOverall, CO treatment triggered molecular, metabolic and cellular responses underpinning a protracted acceleration of AM development. C_LI