Abstract
The plant parasitic nematode Heterodera schachtii induces specific syncytial feeding sites in the roots of Arabidopsis thaliana from where it withdraws all required nutrients. Therefore, syncytia have to be well supplied with assimilates and generate strong sinks in the host plant's transport system. Import mechanisms and consequent accumulation of sucrose in syncytia were described recently. In this work, we studied the starch metabolism of syncytia. Using high-performance liquid chromatography and microscopic analyses, we demonstrated that syncytia store carbohydrates by starch accumulation. Further, we monitored the expression of genes involved in the starch metabolic pathway by gene chip analysis and quantitative reverse transcription-PCR. Finally, we provide functional proof of the importance of starch synthesis for nematode development using T-DNA insertion lines. We conclude that syncytia accumulate starch as a carbohydrate buffer to compensate for changing solute uptake by the nematode and as long-term storage during juvenile development.
Highlights
The plant parasitic nematode Heterodera schachtii induces specific syncytial feeding sites in the roots of Arabidopsis thaliana from where it withdraws all required nutrients
The stylet is carefully inserted into the syncytium and the nematode releases secretions that lead to the formation of a feeding tube
The results indicate that starch synthesis and degradation are regulated by sugar levels rather than by the photoperiod
Summary
The plant parasitic nematode Heterodera schachtii induces specific syncytial feeding sites in the roots of Arabidopsis thaliana from where it withdraws all required nutrients. Numerous studies have been performed to increase knowledge of starch metabolism, including in the model plant Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana; Zeeman et al, 2002, 2004; Siedlecka et al, 2003; Smith et al, 2004; Delvalleet al., 2005; Lloyd et al, 2005; Dumez et al, 2006). Our results give a detailed description of this part of carbohydrate metabolism in syncytia They support the concept of syncytia being formed as new heterotrophic plant structures that use starch as intermediate carbohydrate storage to compensate fluctuating sugar levels occurring during nematode feeding and development
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