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The Lotus japonicus ndxgene family is involved in nodule function and maintenance

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Abstract

To elucidate the function of the ndx homeobox genes during the Rhizobium-legume symbiosis, two Lotus japonicus ndxgenes were expressed in the antisense orientation under the control of the nodule-expressed promoter Psenod12 in transgenic Lotus japonicus plants. Many of the transformants obtained segregated into plants that failed to sustain proper development and maintenance of root nodules concomitant with down-regulation of the two ndx genes. The root nodules were actively fixing nitrogen 3 weeks after inoculation, but the plants exhibited a stunted growth phenotype. The nodules on such antisense plants had under-developed vasculature and lenticels when grown on medium lacking nitrogen sources. These nodules furthermore entered senescence earlier than the wild-type nodules. Normal plant growth was resumed upon external addition of nitrogen. This suggests that assimilated nitrogen is not properly supplied to the plants in which the two ndx genes are down-regulated. The results presented here, indicate that the ndx genes play a role in the development of structural nodule features, required for proper gas diffusion into the nodule and/or transport of the assimilated nitrogen to the plant.

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Author notes

  1. Mette Grønlund

    Present address: Clusius Laboratory, Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences, Leiden University, Wassenaarseweg 64, 2333 AL, Leiden, Netherlands

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Gene Expression, Department of Molecular Biology, Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 10, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark

    Mette Grønlund, Camilla Gustafsen, Dorte Jensen, Kjeld A. Marcker & Erik Østergaard Jensen

  2. Clusius Laboratory, Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences, Leiden University, Wassenaarseweg 64, 2333 AL, Leiden, Netherlands

    Andreas Roussis

  3. Department of Microbial Ecology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade, Building 540, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark

    Lars Peter Nielsen

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  1. Mette Grønlund
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Correspondence to Erik Østergaard Jensen.

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Grønlund, M., Gustafsen, C., Roussis, A. et al. The Lotus japonicus ndxgene family is involved in nodule function and maintenance. Plant Mol Biol 52, 303–316 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1023967214199

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