Molecular understanding of parasitic plants’ ability to avoid auto-parasitism and invade others
S. SAUCET (1), K. Shirasu (2) (1) RIKEN CSRS, Japan; (2) RIKEN CSRS, Japan

Parasitic plants evolved the ability to penetrate and connect to other plants root in order to acquire nutrients. This parasitism occurs via a specialized invading organ called haustorium which formation is triggered by the perception of the host root exudate. Haustorium formation must be tightly regulated as any alteration can cause absence of viable connection with the host, failure in nutrients acquisition and potential death of the parasite. In our laboratory, we use the facultative parasitic plant Phtheirospermum Japonicum to study the chemical and genetic requirements for haustorium formation and connection with the host. Parasitic plants often avoid invasion of own and related parasitic species. In particular, P. japonicum root exudate do not activate its own and related parasitic plant, Striga hermonthica, hautorium formation. We are investigating what are the differences in haustorium inducing factors that exist between host and non-host plants. P. japonicum transcription profile enabled the identification of 5 subtilase-encoding genes strongly expressed during parasitism. To understand their role, we plan to confirm their expression in haustoria using a fluorescent reporter system. We successfully developped the plant RNA-guided genome editing CRISPR/Cas9 method for P. japonicum. We will use this method to knock-out the different subtilase candidates and assess their requirement for P. japonicum parasitism.

Abstract Number: P7-207
Session Type: Poster