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Decreased Root-Knot Nematode Gall Formation in Roots of the Morning Glory Ipomoea tricolor Symbiotic with Ergot Alkaloid-Producing Fungal Periglandula Sp.

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Abstract

Many species of morning glories (Convolvulaceae) form symbioses with seed-transmitted Periglandula fungal endosymbionts, which produce ergot alkaloids and may contribute to defensive mutualism. Allocation of seed-borne ergot alkaloids to various tissues of several Ipomoea species has been demonstrated, including roots of I. tricolor. The goal of this study was to determine if infection of I. tricolor by the Periglandula sp. endosymbiont affects Southern root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) gall formation and host plant biomass. We hypothesized that I. tricolor plants infected by Periglandula (E+) would develop fewer nematode-induced galls compared to non-symbiotic plants (E-). E+ or E- status of plant lines was confirmed by testing methanol extracts from individual seeds for endosymbiont-produced ergot alkaloids. To test the effects of Periglandula on nematode colonization, E+ and E- I. tricolor seedlings were grown in soil infested with high densities of M. incognita nematodes (N+) or no nematodes (N-) for four weeks in the greenhouse before harvesting. After harvest, nematode colonization of roots was visualized microscopically, and total gall number and plant biomass were quantified. Four ergot alkaloids were detected in roots of E+ plants, but no alkaloids were found in E- plants. Gall formation was reduced by 50% in E+ plants compared to E- plants, independent of root biomass. Both N+ plants and E+ plants had significantly reduced biomass compared to N- and E- plants, respectively. These results demonstrate Periglandula’s defensive role against biotic enemies, albeit with a potential trade-off with host plant growth.

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Acknowledgements

Authors are grateful to Yuan-Zheng Zhao, Chuwen Li, Michael Frisby, Clay lab members, Indiana University (IU) Greenhouse staff, IU Light Microscopy Imaging Center, Dr. Erik Ragsdale and lab members (IU) and Dr. Antoon Ploeg (University of California-Riverside) for all contributions and technical support for the success of this research. L.D. was supported by a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. D.G.P. was supported by National Institutes of Health grant 2R15GM114774-2 and Hatch funds. This research was financially supported in part by grant 429440 from the Simons Foundation to the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (W. Wcislo, P.I.).

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  1. Keith Clay

    Present address: Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70118-5698, USA

  2. Lekeah Durden and Dong Wang contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405-3700, USA

    Lekeah Durden & Keith Clay

  2. Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China

    Dong Wang

  3. Division of Plant and Soil Science, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506-6108, USA

    Daniel Panaccione

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  1. Lekeah Durden
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Correspondence to Lekeah Durden.

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Durden, L., Wang, D., Panaccione, D. et al. Decreased Root-Knot Nematode Gall Formation in Roots of the Morning Glory Ipomoea tricolor Symbiotic with Ergot Alkaloid-Producing Fungal Periglandula Sp.. J Chem Ecol 45, 879–887 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-019-01109-w

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