‘Friend versus foe’—does autophagy help regulate symbiotic plant–microbe interactions and can it be manipulated to improve legume cultivation?

Abstract

Autophagy is a genetically regulated, eukaryotic catabolic pathway that responds to internal and external cellular signals. In plants, it plays crucial roles in development, and responses to abiotic and biotic stresses. Due to its role in limiting the hypersensitive response, research on the molecular mechanisms of autophagic signalling pathways in plant–microbe interactions has primarily focused on plant–pathogen responses. Although there is substantially less information on the role of autophagy signalling in symbiotic plant–microbe interactions, there is accumulating evidence that it is also a key regulator of mutualistic plant–microbe interactions. Here, we review recent progress on the roles of autophagy in symbiotic plant interactions and discuss potential future research directions. Once understood, the central role that autophagy plays within pathogenic and symbiotic plant–microbe interactions has significant potential application for crop improvement. Manipulating autophagy in legume crops could help support crop growth with reduced levels of fertiliser application while maintaining yields with increased protein content in the harvest.