A pH signaling mechanism involved in the spatial distribution of calcium and anion fluxes in ectomycorrhizal roots

Mycorrhization is a typical example of a host-pathogen symbiotic interaction where the pathogen cell biology and the host immune response coevolved several functional links. Here, the role played by ion fluxes across the root concerning nutrient uptake, osmoregulation, growth and signaling events is addressed. An ion-selective vibrating probe system was used to determine the net fluxes of protons (H+), calcium (Ca2+) and anions (A(-)) along nonmycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal (ECM) roots of Eucalyptus globulus colonized by Pisolithus sp. These data show that, from five root zones analyzed, the main effect of fungal colonization was localized to the elongation zone. Here, strong changes in ion dynamics and rhizosphere acidification capacity were observed. Additionally, ion fluxes exhibited periodic fluctuations. To verify whether these fluctuations corresponded to sustained oscillations, continuous wavelet time spectrum analysis was applied and it was determined that H+ and A(-) fluxes from ECM roots had longer periods than nonmycorrhizal roots. By contrast, Ca2+ oscillations were completely abolished following fungal interaction. These results are interpreted in the light of a working model in which nutrient uptake and stimulation of growth are mediated by ECM fungi and may be pH-dependent. Furthermore, the variations detected in ECM roots for H+ and A(-) fluxes suggest a main contribution from the plant, while the results obtained for Ca2+ point to a significant involvement of the fungus. New Phytologist (2009) 181: 448-462doi: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2008.02656.x.