Multiomics reveals Claroideoglomus etunicatum regulates plant hormone signal transduction, photosynthesis and La compartmentalization in maize to promote growth under La stress.

Rare earth elements (REEs) have been widely used in traditional and high-tech fields, and high doses of REEs are considered a risk to the ecosystem. Although the influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in promoting host resistance to heavy metal (HM) stress has been well documented, the molecular mechanism by which AMF symbiosis enhances plant tolerance to REEs is still unclear. A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the molecular mechanism by which the AMF Claroideoglomus etunicatum promotes maize (Zea mays) seedling tolerance to lanthanum (La) stress (100 mg·kg La). C. etunicatum symbiosis significantly improved maize seedling growth, P and La uptake and photosynthesis. Transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome analyses performed alone and together revealed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to auxin /indole-3-acetic acid (AUX/IAA) and the DEGs and differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) related to ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, natural resistance-associated macrophage proteins (Nramp6), vacuoles and vesicles were upregulated. In contrast, photosynthesis-related DEGs and DEPs were downregulated, and 1-phosphatidyl-1D-myo-inositol 3-phosphate (PI(3)P) was more abundant under C. etunicatum symbiosis. C. etunicatum symbiosis can promote plant growth by increasing P uptake, regulating plant hormone signal transduction, photosynthesis and glycerophospholipid metabolism pathways and enhancing La transport and compartmentalization in vacuoles and vesicles. The results provide new insights into the promotion of plant REE tolerance by AMF symbiosis and the possibility of utilizing AMF-maize interactions in REE phytoremediation and recycling.