Genomic and transcriptomic insights into legume-rhizobia symbiosis in the nitrogen-fixing tree Robinia pseudoacacia

© 2025 The Author(s). New Phytologist © 2025 New Phytologist Foundation.

Détails bibliographiques
Publié dans:The New phytologist. - 1979. - 246(2025), 6 vom: 21. Juni, Seite 2522-2536
Auteur principal: Hu, Bin (Auteur)
Autres auteurs: Messerer, Maxim, Haberer, Georg, Lux, Thomas, Marosi, Vanda, Mayer, Klaus F X, Oliphant, Kevin D, Kaufholdt, David, Schulze, Jutta, Kreth, Lana-Sophie, Jurgeleit, Jens, Geffers, Robert, Hänsch, Robert, Rennenberg, Heinz
Format: Article en ligne
Langue:English
Publié: 2025
Accès à la collection:The New phytologist
Sujets:Journal Article Robinia pseudoacacia L. biological N2 fixation genome legume rhizobia inoculation transcriptional analysis
Description
Résumé:© 2025 The Author(s). New Phytologist © 2025 New Phytologist Foundation.
Robinia pseudoacacia L. (black locust) is a nitrogen (N)-fixing legume tree with significant ecological and agricultural importance. Unlike well-studied herbaceous legumes, R. pseudoacacia is a perennial woody species, representing an understudied group of legume trees that establish symbiosis with Mesorhizobium. Understanding its genomic and transcriptional responses to nodulation provides key insights into N fixation in long-lived plants and their role in ecosystem N cycling. We assembled a high-quality 699.6-Mb reference genome and performed transcriptomic analyses comparing inoculated and noninoculated plants. Differential expression and co-expression network analyses revealed organ-specific regulatory pathways, identifying key genes associated with symbiosis, nutrient transport, and stress adaptation. Unlike Medicago truncatula, which predominantly responds to nodulation in roots, R. pseudoacacia exhibited stem-centered transcriptional reprogramming, with the majority of differentially expressed genes located in stems rather than in roots. Co-expression network analysis identified gene modules associated with "leghemoglobins", metal detoxification, and systemic nutrient allocation, highlighting a coordinated long-distance response to N fixation. This study establishes R. pseudoacacia as a genomic model for nodulating trees, providing essential resources for evolutionary, ecological, and applied research. These findings have significant implications for reforestation, phytoremediation, forestry, and sustainable N management, particularly in depleted, degraded, and contaminated soil ecosystems
Description:Date Completed 22.05.2025
Date Revised 22.05.2025
published: Print-Electronic
Citation Status MEDLINE
ISSN:1469-8137
DOI:10.1111/nph.70101