Correlative evidence for co-regulation of phosphorus and carbon exchanges with symbiotic fungus in the arbuscular mycorrhizal Medicago truncatula

Abstract

In the research of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis a considerable progress was made. But despite that, key questions still remain unanswered - for example it is well known that biotrophic fungus release phosphate (P) to- and recieves carbon (C) from the plant symbiont, but the particular genes, and their products, responsible for this exchange are still not fully understood. Here, we made a de novo quest for such genes involved in C transfer. Using physiological intervention of 90% shading and the correlation of expression levels of MtPT4, the AM-specific marker, and our candidate genes we demonstrate that several novel genes may be involved in AM symbiosis in Medicago truncatula. Also, we examined the expression of phosphate transporters (MtPT1-6) and we discuss the balance of \"direct\" and \"mycorrhizal\" P uptake pathways upon symbiotic fungus infection and C deprivation.