A Sensitive Assay for Rapid Detection and Quantification of Aphanomyces euteiches in Soil.

Aphanomyces euteiches is a widespread oomycete pathogen causing root rot in a wide range of leguminous crops. Losses can reach up to 100% for pea culture and there is currently no registered pesticide for its control. Crop management remains the most efficient tool to control root rot, and avoidance of infested soil seems to be the optimal solution.

Arabinogalactan proteins in root-microbe interactions.

Arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) are among the most intriguing sets of macromolecules, specific to plants, structurally complex, and found abundantly in all plant organs including roots, as well as in root exudates. AGPs have been implicated in several fundamental plant processes such as development and reproduction. Recently, they have emerged as interesting actors of root-microbe interactions in the rhizosphere.

Effect of arabinogalactan proteins from the root caps of pea and Brassica napus on Aphanomyces euteiches zoospore chemotaxis and germination.

Root tips of many plant species release a number of border, or border-like, cells that are thought to play a major role in the protection of root meristem. However, little is currently known on the structure and function of the cell wall components of such root cells. Here, we investigate the sugar composition of the cell wall of the root cap in two species: pea (Pisum sativum), which makes border cells, and Brassica napus, which makes border-like cells.

Association between border cell responses and localized root infection by pathogenic Aphanomyces euteiches.

Background And Aims: The oomycete Aphanomyces euteiches causes up to 80 % crop loss in pea (Pisum sativum). Aphanomyces euteiches invades the root system leading to a complete arrest of root growth and ultimately to plant death. To date, disease control measures are limited to crop rotation and no resistant pea lines are available.

Border cells versus border-like cells: are they alike?

Roots of many plants are known to produce large numbers of 'border' cells that play a central role in root protection and the interaction of the root with the rhizosphere. Unlike border cells, border-like cells were described only recently in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana and other Brassicaceae species and very little is known about the functional properties of border-like cells as compared with 'classical' border cells. To stimulate discussion and future research on this topic, the function of border cells and the way border-like cells are organized, maintained, and possibly involved in plant protection is discussed here.