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Poster

Session: Session 2 Presenting Authors at Posters (Evens)

P-240 - Coumarin-fungal endophyte interactions facilitate iron nutrition in Arabidopsis

Thursday, July 17, 2025
13:30 - 15:15  
Location: Confex Hall 3
Nutrient exchange & role of metabolites in plant-microbe interactions

    Presenting Author(s)

  • LV

    Lara Van Dijck

    PhD student
    Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research
    Cologne, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany

    • Author(s)

  • DE

    Dario Esposto

    Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry
    Halle (Saale), Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany

  • CH

    Charlotte Hülsmann

    Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research
    Cologne, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany

  • GB

    Gerd Balcke

    Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry
    Halle, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany

  • AT

    Alain Tissier

    Head of Institute
    Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry
    Halle, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany

  • RG

    Ricardo F.H. Giehl

    Group leader
    Leibniz-Institute of Plant Genetics & Crop Plant Research
    Gatersleben, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany

  • AP

    Anthony Piro

    Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research
    Cologne, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany

  • JP

    Jane Parker

    Senior Group Leader
    Department of Plant-Microbe Interactions, Max-Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research
    Cologne, GERMANY

Plants shape their root microbiome through the exudation of various compounds, with coumarins being a key class of secondary metabolites derived from the phenylpropanoid pathway. Several coumarins, such as scopoletin, exhibit selective antimicrobial properties, suggesting a role in microbial selection within the endo- and rhizosphere. Recent studies have highlighted the involvement of coumarins in iron mobilization, a critical process especially in soils with limited iron bioavailability. Factors such as pH and microbial interactions influence coumarin exudation and their ability to reduce or mobilize iron, adding complexity to their role in plant nutrition. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of fungal endophytes on iron nutrition in Arabidopsis, with a focus on the interaction between the endophyte Macrophomina phaseolina and coumarins. This fungal endophyte enhances iron nutrition in Arabidopsis under iron-limited conditions. Our genetic and metabolite-profiling data show that plant-produced scopoletin is converted by the fungus into iron-chelating compounds to release available iron. This research provides novel insights into the coupling of microbial activity and coumarin-mediated iron mobilization in plants. By understanding the molecular and ecological dynamics of these interactions, we contribute to the broader field of plant-microbe interactions, with potential applications in improving plant resilience and productivity in iron-limited soils.