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Application of synthetic peptide CEP1 increases nutrient uptake rates along plant roots
  • +8
  • Sonali Roy,
  • Marcus Griffiths,
  • Ivone Torres-Jerez,
  • Bailey Sanchez,
  • Elizabeth Antonelli,
  • Divya Jain,
  • Nicholas Krom,
  • Shulan Zhang,
  • Larry York,
  • Wolf-Rüdiger Scheible,
  • Michael Udvardi
Sonali Roy
Tennessee State University, Tennessee State University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Marcus Griffiths
Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
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Ivone Torres-Jerez
Noble Research Institute LLC, Noble Research Institute LLC
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Bailey Sanchez
Noble Research Institute LLC, Noble Research Institute LLC
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Elizabeth Antonelli
Noble Research Institute LLC, Noble Research Institute LLC
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Divya Jain
Tennessee State University, Tennessee State University
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Nicholas Krom
Noble Research Institute LLC, Noble Research Institute LLC
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Shulan Zhang
Noble Research Institute LLC, Noble Research Institute LLC
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Larry York
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
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Wolf-Rüdiger Scheible
Noble Research Institute LLC, Noble Research Institute LLC
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Michael Udvardi
University of Queensland, University of Queensland
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Abstract

The root system of a plant provides vital functions including resource uptake, storage, and anchorage in soil. The uptake of macro-nutrients like nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and sulphur (S) from the soil is critical for plant growth and development. Small signaling peptide (SSP) hormones are best known as potent regulators of plant growth and development with a few also known to have specialized roles in macronutrient utilization. Here we describe a high throughput phenotyping platform for testing SSP effects on root uptake of multiple nutrients. The SSP, CEP1 (C-TERMINALLY ENCODED PEPTIDE) enhanced nitrate uptake rate per unit root length in Medicago trun-catula plants deprived of N in the high-affinity transport range. Single structural variants of M. truncatula and Arabidopsis thaliana specific CEP1 peptides, MtCEP1D1:hyp4,11 and AtCEP1:hyp4,11, enhanced uptake not only of nitrate, but also phosphate and sulfate in both model plant species. Transcriptome analysis of Medicago roots treated with different MtCEP1 encoded peptide domains revealed that hundreds of genes respond to these peptides, including several nitrate transporters and a sulfate transporter that may mediate the uptake of these macronutrients downstream of CEP1 signaling. Likewise, several putative sig-naling pathway genes including LEUCINE-RICH REPEAT RECPTOR-LIKE KINASES and Myb domain containing transcription factors, were induced in 1
03 Jan 2022Published in Frontiers in Plant Science volume 12. 10.3389/fpls.2021.793145