Metabolic Profiling and Metabolite Correlation Network Analysis Reveal That <i>Fusarium solani</i> Induces Differential Metabolic Responses in <i>Lotus japonicus</i> and <i>Lotus tenuis</i> against Severe Phosphate Starvation
2021
Amira Susana Nieva | Fernando Matías Romero | Alexander Erban | Pedro Carrasco | Oscar Adolfo Ruiz | Joachim Kopka
Root fungal endophytes are essential mediators of plant nutrition under mild stress conditions. However, variations in the rhizosphere environment, such as nutrient depletion, could result in a stressful situation for both partners, shifting mutualistic to nonconvenient interactions. Mycorrhizal fungi and dark septate endophytes (DSEs) have demonstrated their ability to facilitate phosphate (Pi) acquisition. However, few studies have investigated other plant–fungal interactions that take place in the root environment with regard to phosphate nutrition. In the present research work, we aimed to analyze the effect of extreme Pi starvation and the fungal endophyte <i>Fusarium solani</i> on the model <i>Lotus japonicus</i> and the crop <i>L. tenuis.</i> We conducted metabolomics analysis based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) on plant tissues under optimal conditions, severe Pi starvation and <i>F.solani</i> presence. By combining statistical and correlation network analysis strategies, we demonstrated the differential outcomes of the two plant species against the combination of treatments. The combination of nutritional stress and <i>Fusarium</i> presence activated significant modifications in the metabolism of <i>L. japonicus</i> affecting the levels of sugars, polyols and some amino acids. Our results display potential markers for further inspection of the factors related to plant nutrition and plant–fungal interactions.
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