Effects of genetic modifications to flax (Linum usitatissimum) on arbuscular mycorrhiza and plant performance

Abstract

Although arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are known for their positive effect on flax growth, the impact of genetic manipulation in this crop on arbuscular mycorrhiza and plant performance was assessed for the first time. Five types of transgenic flax that were generated to improve fiber quality and resistance to pathogens, through increased levels of either phenylpropanoids (W92.40), glycosyltransferase (GT4, GT5), or PR2 beta-1,3-glucanase (B14) or produce polyhydroxybutyrate (M50), were used. Introduced genetic modifications did not change the degree of mycorrhizal colonization as compared to parent cultivars Linola and Nike. Arbuscules were well developed in each tested transgenic type (except M50). In two lines (W92.40 and B14), a higher abundance of arbuscules was observed when compared to control, untransformed flax plants. However, in some cases (W92.40, GT4, GT5, and B14 Md), the mycorrhizal dependency for biomass production of transgenic plants was slightly lower when compared to the original cultivars. No significant influence of mycorrhiza on the photosynthetic activity of transformed lines was found, but in most cases P concentration in mycorrhizal plants remained higher than in nonmycorrhizal ones. The transformed flax lines meet the demands for better quality of fiber and higher resistance to pathogens, without significantly influencing the interaction with AMF.

Differential effects of cadmium and chromium on growth, photosynthetic activity, and metal uptake of Linum usitatissimum in association with Glomus intraradices

“…In stress conditions, AM association (Davies et al 2002). In this response, positive association was observed between flax and G. intraradices (Wróbel-Kwiatkowska et al 2012). However, the association of mycorrhizal fungi decreased with increasing concentrations of heavy metals from 250 to 500 ppm because roots accumulate large quantity of heavy metals as compared to other plant parts that directly affected mycorrhizal association (Hildebrandt et al 2007).…”

Were our Ancestors Right in Using Flax Dressings? Research on the Properties of Flax Fibre and Its Usefulness in Wound Healing

“…The study examined the fibre obtained from a traditional fibrous cultivar of flax (Nike) and the fibres from two transgenic flax types (M50 and B14), and a combination of these two flax fibres (M50+B14) [ 11 ]. Both transgenic plants are obtained from Nike cultivar.…”

Alterations in the phenylpropanoid pathway affect poplar ability for ectomycorrhizal colonisation and susceptibility to root-knot nematodes

“…Perturbation in the monolignol pathway may modify plant fitness under field conditions Genetic manipulation of crops for enhanced agronomic assets has been shown to alter the relationship between hosts and mycorrhizal fungi in annual crops (Wróbel-Kwiatkowska et al 2012;Londoño et al 2019) or in perennial species (Danielsen et al 2013;Veach et al 2018). For instance, transgenic poplar lines with decreased activities of CAD, COMT and CCR did not show differences in colonisation rate 2 years after out planting, but significant shifts in the ectomycorrhizal community species were observed, although this variation was similar to that found on different commercial poplar genotypes (Danielsen et al 2012(Danielsen et al , 2013.…”