Plant-microbe interactions within the traps of rootless Utricularia species

Trvání: 1.1.2011 - 31.12.2014

The central hypothesis of our proposed project states that the plant-microbe interactions within the traps of rootless Utricularia species have a profound effect on the ecophysiology of the plants, mainly nutrient (N and P) acquisition. Consequently, plant growth rate or gene expression is affected and the close association may contribute to the genome miniaturization observed within the Utricularia genus.

Goals:

1) Utricularia plants stimulate the microbial colonization of traps as well as microbial proliferation by supplying great amounts of readily available C substrate, while the main benefit for the plants is the uptake of N and P.

2) Utricularia plants are highly dependent on the association with microorganisms and the inability to develop a fully functional microbial loop within the trap results in poorer growth. The importance of associated microbial communities for plant mineral nutrition increases in oligotrophic environments with very low prey capture.

3) Ageing of the Utricularia traps is accompanied by a profound change in trap function, moving from secretion dominance in young traps to the absorption of accumulated nutrients in older traps.

4) Both the close dependence of Utricularia plants on the associated microbes for nutrient acquisition and changes in trap function with age are reflected in and can therefore be identified in the changes of plant gene expression patterns.

find more on: http://kbe.prf.jcu.cz/node/2644

Datum aktualizace: 26.9.2012