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Roots are plant organs that control the acquisition of soil elements (water, nutrients and microbes) necessary for a normal plant development. In roots, the endodermis, a specialised cell layer, acts as a control point for the movement of water, solutes into the vasculature and the assembly of the plant microbiota. This selective control is possible due to specialised extracellular barriers to diffusion between endodermal cells. These barriers consist of Casparian strips (CS) made of lignin and suberin, a glycerolipid polymer deposited into the space between the cell wall and the plasma membrane. However, the mechanisms controlling the precise deposition of lignin in the endodermal cells, and how this process coordinates with the function of the diffusion barriers in plant nutrition and plant-microbe interaction remain unexplored. In our lab, we identified a new protein defining a new central nanodomain in the CS and required for the proper lignification of the CS. Additionally, the identification of a mutant lacking endodermal lignification allowed us to establish a functional link between the diffusion barriers and the plant nutrient homeostasis and health. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the root diffusion barriers are necessary for a typical microbiome assembly in the root and we identify regulatory genes controlling the interplay between the plant microbiome and the diffusion barriers. Our work places the role of the root diffusion barriers in a more realist context, and critically contributes to the understanding of the regulation of these processes, a critical step towards the development of more resilient and productive crops.

A propos de l'intervenant :

Guilhem Reyt est membre du groupe de recherche du du professeur David Salt (University of Nottingham).

Contact & informations

• Page du prof. David salt >>>
• Contact FRAIB : Sandra Bensmihen