Leaf nodule endosymbiotic Burkholderia confer targeted allelopathy to their Psychotria hosts.

After a century of investigations, the function of the obligate betaproteobacterial endosymbionts accommodated in leaf nodules of tropical Rubiaceae remained enigmatic. We report that the α-D-glucose analogue (+)-streptol, systemically supplied by mature Ca. Burkholderia kirkii nodules to their Psychotria hosts, exhibits potent and selective root growth inhibiting activity. We provide compelling evidence that (+)-streptol specifically affects meristematic root cells transitioning to anisotropic elongation by disrupting cell wall organization in a mechanism of action that is distinct from canonical cellulose biosynthesis inhibitors. We observed no inhibitory or cytotoxic effects on organisms other than seed plants, further suggesting (+)-streptol as a bona fide allelochemical. We propose that the suppression of growth of plant competitors is a major driver of the formation and maintenance of the Psychotria-Burkholderia association. In addition to potential agricultural applications as a herbicidal agent, (+)-streptol might also prove useful to dissect plant cell and organ growth processes. © 2021. The Author(s).

Citation

Antri Georgiou, Simon Sieber, Chien-Chi Hsiao, Tatyana Grayfer, Jacob L Gorenflos López, Karl Gademann, Leo Eberl, Aurélien Bailly. Leaf nodule endosymbiotic Burkholderia confer targeted allelopathy to their Psychotria hosts. Scientific reports. 2021 Nov 17;11(1):22465

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PMID: 34789815

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