Unraveling the proteome of the symbiosome (peribacteroid) membrane (SM)

Legumes establish symbiotic interactions with soil microbes. Rhizobia symbiosis for instance, leads to the formation of root nodules, the organ where the mutualistic metabolic exchange between plant and bacteroids is taking place. In nodules, the SM is the interface for the metabolic exchange between plant and bacteroids. Several proteins have been identified by Wienkoop & Saalbach (2003). Wienkoop`s team and coworker recently revealed the important function of the sulfate transporter (SST1). They demonstrated that the bacteroids take up 20‐fold more sulfate than the nodule host cells. Furthermore, they showed that nitrogenase biosynthesis relies on high levels of imported sulfate from the plant.

 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/pce.13481

Interaction with rhizobia leads to increased drought tolerance of plants

It is commonly accepted that plant species differ in their ability to tolerate abiotic stresses such as drought. This feature is used in plant breeding to select for those plants that have the genetic background best adapted to the environmental constrains. However, not much is known about the effects, soil microbes have on theplants  immune system. Some symbiotic microbes can increase the stress tolerance of the plants by increasing metabolic resistance. Wienkoop`s team found that interaction with rhizobia leads to decelerated leaf senescence of legumes during drought along accelerated recovery upon re-watering. To tackle all the molecular mechanisms, responsible for this “symbiont induced stay green effect” (SISG) is one major focus of Wienkoop`s research group.

Artikel: Bodenbakterien lassen Blätter von Hülsenfrüchten bei Trockenstress langsamer welken

Microbial symbionts improve the plant`s immune response to pathogen attack

The team also investigates the microbial impact on the plant`s immune response to pathogen attack. Symbiosis can enhance e.g. phytoalexin production for increased resistance of the plants against biotic stress. This can lead to improved seed protection and quality.

Alumni

PhDs: Sebastian Schneider, David Lyon, Christiana Staudinger, Vlora Mehmeti, Reinhard Turetschek

PostDocs: Ma.-Angeles Castillejo, Getinet Desalegn

Masters: Irene Seccari, Dragoslava (Sibinovic) Stamenović, Christiana Staudinger, Tamara Epple, Stephan Holzbach, Reinhard Turetschek, Sebastian Schneider, Benedict Dirnberger, Mathias Kolber