A cluster of Ankyrin and Ankyrin-TPR repeat genes is associated with panicle branching diversity in rice.

The number of grains per panicle is an important yield-related trait in cereals which depends in part on panicle branching complexity. One component of this complexity is the number of secondary branches per panicle. Previously, a GWAS site associated with secondary branch and spikelet numbers per panicle in rice was identified. Here we combined gene capture, bi-parental genetic population analysis, expression profiling and transgenic approaches in order to investigate the functional significance of a cluster of 6 ANK and ANK-TPR genes within the QTL. Four of the ANK and ANK-TPR genes present a differential expression associated with panicle secondary branch number in contrasted accessions. These differential expression patterns correlate in the different alleles of these genes with specific deletions of potential cis-regulatory sequences in their promoters. Two of these genes were confirmed through functional analysis as playing a role in the control of panicle architecture. Our findings indicate that secondary branching diversity in the rice panicle is governed in part by differentially expressed genes within this cluster encoding ANK and ANK-TPR domain proteins that may act as positive or negative regulators of panicle meristem's identity transition from indeterminate to determinate state.

Population structure of Pyricularia oryzae on rice in Vietnam reveals diversified populations with four pandemic and two endemic clusters.

We characterized the genetic structure of 609 strains of Pyricularia oryzae, the fungal pathogen causing rice blast disease, in three main regions in Vietnam using microsatellites (SSR) markers. From the 447 distinct multilocus genotypes identified, six genetic clusters were defined, all of them showing elevated genetic and genotypic diversities. Four of these clusters were related to rice-attacking lineages already described at the worldwide scale, whereas the two remaining clusters were endemic to Vietnam. Strains were unevenly distributed into the six clusters depending on their groups of rice variety (indica / japonica) or type of varieties (traditional / modern) of origin, but none of the clusters was specifically related to these two factors. The highest diversity of blast population was found in Northern mountainous area, and the lowest in Red River Delta in both terms of genetic diversity and gene diversity. Hierarchical AMOVAs confirmed that all three factors considered (rice variety group, type of variety origin and geography) significantly contributed to the population structure of P. oryzae in Vietnam, with highest contribution from rice variety group. Mating types were unevenly distributed among clusters. Combined with results of female fertility and linkage disequilibirum, we hypothesized that clonal reproduction probably occurred in all clusters, but that sexual reproduction likely took place at least in some restricted areas in the Northern mountainous area for strains belonging to the cluster related to the previously described recombinant lineage (worldwide lineage 1). Our study pictures the genetic diversity, population structure and reproductive mode of the blast fungus in central and north Vietnam, and shows that the observed population structure is explained by several factors, the most important one being the variability of rice variety. All these new information might help for elaborating appropriate strategies to controlling the blast disease.

A genome-wide association study using a Vietnamese landrace panel of rice (Oryza sativa) reveals new QTLs controlling panicle morphological traits.

CONTEXT: Yield improvement is an important issue for rice breeding. Panicle architecture is one of the key components of rice yield and exhibits a large diversity. To identify the morphological and genetic determinants of panicle architecture, we performed a detailed phenotypic analysis and a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using an original panel of Vietnamese landraces. RESULTS: Using a newly developed image analysis tool, morphological traits of the panicles were scored over two years: rachis length; primary, secondary and tertiary branch number; average length of primary and secondary branches; average length of internode on rachis and primary branch. We observed a high contribution of spikelet number and secondary branch number per panicle to the overall phenotypic diversity in the dataset. Twenty-nine stable QTLs associated with seven traits were detected through GWAS over the two years. Some of these QTLs were associated with genes already implicated in panicle development. Importantly, the present study revealed the existence of new QTLs associated with the spikelet number, secondary branch number and primary branch number traits. CONCLUSIONS: Our phenotypic analysis of panicle architecture variation suggests that with the panel of samples used, morphological diversity depends largely on the balance between indeterminate vs. determinate axillary meristem fate on primary branches, supporting the notion of differences in axillary meristem fate between rachis and primary branches. Our genome-wide association study led to the identification of numerous genomic sites covering all the traits studied and will be of interest for breeding programs aimed at improving yield. The new QTLs detected in this study provide a basis for the identification of new genes controlling panicle development and yield in rice.

Interdependency of efficient nodulation and arbuscular mycorrhization in Piptadenia gonoacantha, a Brazilian legume tree.

Tripartite interactions between legumes and their root symbionts (rhizobia and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, AMF) are poorly understood, although it is well established that only specific combinations of symbionts lead to optimal plant growth. A classic example in which to investigate such interactions is the Brazilian legume tree Piptadenia gonoacantha (Caesalpinioideae), for which efficient nodulation has been described as dependent on the presence of AMF symbiosis. In this study, we compared the nodulation behaviour of several rhizobial strains with or without AMF inoculation, and performed analyses on nodulation, nodule cytology, N-fixing efficiency, and plant growth response. Nodulation of P. gonoacantha does not rely on the presence of AMF, but mycorrhization was rhizobial strain-dependent, and nodule effectiveness and plant growth were dependent on the presence of specific combinations of rhizobial strains and AMF. The co-occurrence of both symbionts within efficient nodules and the differentiation of bacteroids within nodule cells were also demonstrated. Novel close interactions and interdependency for the establishment and/or functioning of these symbioses were also revealed in Piptadenia, thanks to immunocytochemical analyses. These data are discussed in terms of the evolutionary position of the newly circumscribed mimosoid clade within the Caesalpinioid subfamily and its relative proximity to non-nodulated (but AMF-associated) basal subfamilies.

The metal transporter PgIREG1 from the hyperaccumulator Psychotria gabriellae is a candidate gene for nickel tolerance and accumulation.

Nickel is an economically important metal and phytotechnologies are being developed to limit the impact of nickel mining on the environment. More than 300 plant species are known to hyperaccumulate nickel. However, our knowledge of the mechanisms involved in nickel accumulation in plants is very limited because it has not yet been possible to study these hyperaccumulators at the genomic level. Here, we used next-generation sequencing technologies to sequence the transcriptome of the nickel hyperaccumulator Psychotria gabriellae of the Rubiaceae family, and used yeast and Arabidopsis as heterologous systems to study the activity of identified metal transporters. We characterized the activity of three metal transporters from the NRAMP and IREG/FPN families. In particular, we showed that PgIREG1 is able to confer nickel tolerance when expressed in yeast and in transgenic plants, where it localizes in the tonoplast. In addition, PgIREG1 shows higher expression in P. gabriellae than in the related non-accumulator species Psychotria semperflorens. Our results designate PgIREG1 as a candidate gene for nickel tolerance and hyperaccumulation in P. gabriellae. These results also show how next-generation sequencing technologies can be used to access the transcriptome of non-model nickel hyperaccumulators to identify the underlying molecular mechanisms.

Tracking nickel-adaptive biomarkers in Pisolithus albus from New Caledonia using a transcriptomic approach.

The fungus Pisolithus albus forms ectomycorrhizal (ECM) associations with plants growing on extreme ultramafic soils, which are naturally rich in heavy metals such as nickel. Both nickel-tolerant and nickel-sensitive isolates of P. albus are found in ultramafic soils in New Caledonia, a biodiversity hotspot in the Southwest Pacific. The aim of this work was to monitor the expression of genes involved in the specific molecular response to nickel in a nickel-tolerant P. albus isolate. We used pyrosequencing and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) approaches to investigate and compare the transcriptomes of the nickel-tolerant isolate MD06-337 in the presence and absence of nickel. A total of 1,071,375 sequencing reads were assembled to infer expression patterns of 19,518 putative genes. Comparison of expression levels revealed that 30% of the identified genes were modulated by nickel treatment. The genes, for which expression was induced most markedly by nickel, encoded products that were putatively involved in a variety of biological functions, such as the modification of cellular components (53%), regulation of biological processes (27%) and molecular functions (20%). The 10 genes that pyrosequencing analysis indicated were induced the most by nickel were characterized further by qPCR analysis of both nickel-tolerant and nickel-sensitive P. albus isolates. Five of these genes were expressed exclusively in nickel-tolerant isolates as well as in ECM samples in situ, which identified them as potential biomarkers for nickel tolerance in this species. These results clearly suggest a positive transcriptomic response of the fungus to nickel-rich environments. The presence of both nickel-tolerant and nickel-sensitive fungal phenotypes in ultramafic soils might reflect environment-dependent phenotypic responses to variations in the effective concentrations of nickel in heterogeneous ultramafic habitats.

Identification and characterization of Vietnamese coffee bacterial endophytes displaying in vitro antifungal and nematicidal activities.

The endophytic bacteria were isolated from coffee roots and seeds in Vietnam and identified with 16S rDNA sequencing as belonging to the Actinobacteria, Firmicutes and Proteobacteria phyla with the Nocardia, Bacillus and Burkholderia as dominant genera, respectively. Out of the thirty genera recovered from Coffea canephora and Coffea liberica, twelve were reported for the first time in endophytic association with coffee including members of the genera Brachybacterium, Caballeronia, Kitasatospora, Lechevalieria, Leifsonia, Luteibacter, Lysinibacillus, Mycolicibacterium, Nakamurella, Paracoccus, Sinomonas and Sphingobium. A total of eighty bacterial endophytes were characterized in vitro for several plant growth promoting and biocontrol traits including: the phosphate solubilization, the indolic compounds, siderophores, HCN, esterase, lipase, gelatinase and chitinase production. A subset of fifty selected bacteria were tested for their potential as biocontrol agents with in vitro confrontations with the fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum as well as the coffee parasitic nematodes Radopholus duriophilus and Pratylenchus coffeae. The three most efficient isolates on F. oxysporum belonging to the Bacillus, Burkholderia, and Streptomyces genera displayed a growth inhibition rate higher than 40%. Finally, five isolates from the Bacillus genus were able to lead to 100% of mortality in 24 h on both R. duriophilus and P. coffeae.

Functional Diversification of euANT/PLT Genes in Oryza sativa Panicle Architecture Determination.

Grain yield, which is one of the most important traits in rice breeding, is controlled in part by panicle branching patterns. Numerous genes involved in the control of panicle architecture have been identified through mutant and QTL characterization. Previous studies suggested the importance of several AP2/ERF transcription factor-encoding genes in the control of panicle development, including the AINTEGUMENTA/PLETHORA-like (euANT/PLT) genes. The ANT gene was specifically considered to be a key regulator of shoot and floral development in Arabidopsis thaliana. However, the likely importance of paralogous euANT/PLT genes in the regulation of meristem identities and activities during panicle architecture development has not to date been fully addressed in rice. In this study, we observed that the rice euANT/PLT genes displayed divergent temporal expression patterns during the branching stages of early panicle development, with spatial localization of expression in meristems for two of these genes. Moreover, a functional analysis of rice ANT-related genes using genome editing revealed their importance in the control of panicle architecture, through the regulation of axillary meristem (AM) establishment and meristem fate transition. Our study suggests that the paralogous euANT/PLT genes have become partially diversified in their functions, with certain opposing effects, since they arose from ancestral gene duplication events, and that they act in regulating the branching of the rice panicle.

Nickel-tolerant ectomycorrhizal Pisolithus albus ultramafic ecotype isolated from nickel mines in New Caledonia strongly enhance growth of the host plant Eucalyptus globulus at toxic nickel concentrations.

Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) Pisolithus albus (Cooke & Massee), belonging to the ultramafic ecotype isolated in nickel-rich serpentine soils from New Caledonia (a tropical hotspot of biodiversity) and showing in vitro adaptive nickel tolerance, were inoculated to Eucalyptus globulus Labill used as a Myrtaceae plant-host model to study ectomycorrhizal symbiosis. Plants were then exposed to a nickel (Ni) dose-response experiment with increased Ni treatments up to 60 mg kg( - )(1) soil as extractable Ni content in serpentine soils. Results showed that plants inoculated with ultramafic ECM P. albus were able to tolerate high and toxic concentrations of Ni (up to 60 µg g( - )(1)) while uninoculated controls were not. At the highest Ni concentration tested, root growth was more than 20-fold higher and shoot growth more than 30-fold higher in ECM plants compared with control plants. The improved growth in ECM plants was associated with a 2.4-fold reduction in root Ni concentration but a massive 60-fold reduction in transfer of Ni from root to shoots. In vitro, P. albus strains could withstand high Ni concentrations but accumulated very little Ni in its tissue. The lower Ni uptake by mycorrhizal plants could not be explained by increased release of metal-complexing chelates since these were 5- to 12-fold lower in mycorrhizal plants at high Ni concentrations. It is proposed that the fungal sheath covering the plant roots acts as an effective barrier to limit transfer of Ni from soil into the root tissue. The degree of tolerance conferred by the ultramafic P. albus isolates to growth of the host tree species is considerably greater than previously reported for other ECM. The primary mechanisms underlying this improved growth were identified as reduced Ni uptake into the roots and markedly reduced transfer from root to shoot in mycorrhizal plants. The fact that these positive responses were observed at Ni concentrations commonly observed in serpentinic soils suggests that ultramafic ecotypes of P. albus could play an important role in the adaptation of tree species to soils containing high concentrations of heavy metals and aid in strategies for ecological restoration.

CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Gene Editing of the Jasmonate Biosynthesis OsAOC Gene in Rice.

The function of Jasmonate (JA) is well documented in different plant physiological processes as well as in the interactions with their environment. Mutants impaired in JA production and/or signaling are useful materials to study the function of this phytohormone. Genes involved in the JA biosynthesis pathway in rice have been described, but few mutants deficient in JA production and signaling have been identified. Moreover, these mutants are mostly generated through random mutagenesis approaches, such as irradiation, EMS treatment, or T-DNA insertion, and potentially harbor undesired mutations that could affect other biological processes. The CRISPR/Cas9 system is a precise and efficient genome editing tool that creates DNA modification at specific loci and limit undesired mutations.In this chapter, we describe a procedure to generate new JA-deficient mutant using CRISPR/Cas9 system in rice. The Allene Oxide Cyclase (OsAOC) gene is targeted since it is a single copy gene in the JA biosynthesis pathway in rice. The widely used variety Oryza sativa japonica Kitaake has been chosen due to its short life cycle and its ease of genetic transformation. This protocol describes the selection of the 20-nt target sequence, construction of the binary vector, and strategy for selecting the T-DNA-free mutant.

Jasmonates-the Master Regulator of Rice Development, Adaptation and Defense.

Rice is one of the most important food crops worldwide, as well as the model plant in molecular studies on the cereals group. Many different biotic and abiotic agents often limit rice production and threaten food security. Understanding the molecular mechanism, by which the rice plant reacts and resists these constraints, is the key to improving rice production to meet the demand of an increasing population. The phytohormone jasmonic acid (JA) and related compounds, collectively called jasmonates, are key regulators in plant growth and development. They are also one of the central players in plant immunity against biotic attacks and adaptation to unfavorable environmental conditions. Here, we review the most recent knowledge about jasmonates signaling in the rice crop model. We highlight the functions of jasmonates signaling in many adaptive responses, and also in rice growth and development processes. We also draw special attention to different signaling modules that are controlled by jasmonates in rice.

Genome-wide association mapping of leaf mass traits in a Vietnamese rice landrace panel.

Leaf traits are often strongly correlated with yield, which poses a major challenge in rice breeding. In the present study, using a panel of Vietnamese rice landraces genotyped with 21,623 single-nucleotide polymorphism markers, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted for several leaf traits during the vegetative stage. Vietnamese landraces are often poorly represented in panels used for GWAS, even though they are adapted to contrasting agrosystems and can contain original, valuable genetic determinants. A panel of 180 rice varieties was grown in pots for four weeks with three replicates under nethouse conditions. Different leaf traits were measured on the second fully expanded leaf of the main tiller, which often plays a major role in determining the photosynthetic capacity of the plant. The leaf fresh weight, turgid weight and dry weight were measured; then, from these measurements, the relative tissue weight and leaf dry matter percentage were computed. The leaf dry matter percentage can be considered a proxy for the photosynthetic efficiency per unit leaf area, which contributes to yield. By a GWAS, thirteen QTLs associated with these leaf traits were identified. Eleven QTLs were identified for fresh weight, eleven for turgid weight, one for dry weight, one for relative tissue weight and one for leaf dry matter percentage. Eleven QTLs presented associations with several traits, suggesting that these traits share common genetic determinants, while one QTL was specific to leaf dry matter percentage and one QTL was specific to relative tissue weight. Interestingly, some of these QTLs colocalize with leaf- or yield-related QTLs previously identified using other material. Several genes within these QTLs with a known function in leaf development or physiology are reviewed.

Unraveling the Genetic Elements Involved in Shoot and Root Growth Regulation by Jasmonate in Rice Using a Genome-Wide Association Study.

BACKGROUND: Due to their sessile life style, plant survival is dependent on the ability to build up fast and highly adapted responses to environmental stresses by modulating defense response and organ growth. The phytohormone jasmonate plays an essential role in regulating these plant responses to stress. RESULTS: To assess variation of plant growth responses and identify genetic determinants associated to JA treatment, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using an original panel of Vietnamese rice accessions. The phenotyping results showed a high natural genetic variability of the 155 tested rice accessions in response to JA for shoot and root growth. The level of growth inhibition by JA is different according to the rice varieties tested. We conducted genome-wide association study and identified 28 significant associations for root length (RTL), shoot length (SHL), root weight (RTW), shoot weight (SHW) and total weight (TTW) in response to JA treatment. Three common QTLs were found for RTL, RTW and SHL. Among a list of 560 candidate genes found to co-locate with the QTLs, a transcriptome analysis from public database for the JA response allows us to identify 232 regulated genes including several JA-responsive transcription factors known to play a role in stress response. CONCLUSION: Our genome-wide association study shows that common and specific genetic elements are associated with inhibition of shoot and root growth under JA treatment suggesting the involvement of a complex JA-dependent genetic control of rice growth inhibition at the whole plant level. Besides, numerous candidate genes associated to stress and JA response are co-located with the association loci, providing useful information for future studies on genetics and breeding to optimize the growth-defense trade-off in rice.

Genome-wide Association Study of a Panel of Vietnamese Rice Landraces Reveals New QTLs for Tolerance to Water Deficit During the Vegetative Phase.

BACKGROUND: Drought tolerance is a major challenge in breeding rice for unfavorable environments. In this study, we used a panel of 180 Vietnamese rice landraces genotyped with 21,623 single-nucleotide polymorphism markers to perform a genome-wide association study (GWAS) for different drought response and recovery traits during the vegetative stage. These landraces originate from different geographical locations and are adapted to different agrosystems characterized by contrasted water regimes. Vietnamese landraces are often underrepresented in international panels used for GWAS, but they can contain original genetic determinants related to drought resistance. RESULTS: The panel of 180 rice varieties was phenotyped under greenhouse conditions for several drought-related traits in an experimental design with 3 replicates. Plants were grown in pots for 4 weeks and drought-stressed by stopping irrigation for an additional 4 weeks. Drought sensitivity scores and leaf relative water content were measured throughout the drought stress. The recovery capacity was measured 2 weeks after plant rewatering. Several QTLs associated with these drought tolerance traits were identified by GWAS using a mixed model with control of structure and kinship. The number of detected QTLs consisted of 14 for leaf relative water content, 9 for slope of relative water content, 12 for drought sensitivity score, 3 for recovery ability and 1 for relative crop growth rate. This set of 39 QTLs actually corresponded to a total of 17 different QTLs because 9 were simultaneously associated with two or more traits, which indicates that these common loci may have pleiotropic effects on drought-related traits. No QTL was found in association with the same traits in both the indica and japonica subpanels. The possible candidate genes underlying the quantitative trait loci are reviewed. CONCLUSIONS: Some of the identified QTLs contain promising candidate genes with a function related to drought tolerance by osmotic stress adjustment.

Metal resistance in yeast mediated by the expression of a maize 20S proteasome alpha subunit.

Transformation of yeast cells with a maize cDNA ZmPAA, encoding a 20S proteasome alpha-subunit, conferred resistance to nickel, cadmium and cobalt. This resistance is not linked to a modification of the intracellular nickel content, as no accumulation of nickel was measured between yeast cells transformed with a void vector or the ZmPAA cDNA. The abundance of the ZmPAA mRNA was increased in the shoots of maize plants upon nickel treatment. These results suggest that the proteasome might be involved in nickel resistance by scavenging metal oxidized proteins both in plants and yeast.

A novel CPx-ATPase from the cadmium hyperaccumulator Thlaspi caerulescens.

Thlaspi caerulescens exhibits a unique capacity for cadmium tolerance and accumulation. We investigated the molecular basis of this exceptional Cd(2+) tolerance by screening for T. caerulescens genes, which alleviate Cd(2+) toxicity upon expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This allowed for the isolation of a cDNA encoding a peptide with homology to the C-terminal part of a heavy metal ATPase. The corresponding TcHMA4 full-length sequence was isolated from T. caerulescens and compared to its homolog from Arabidopsis thaliana (AtHMA4). Expression of TcHMA4 and AtHMA4 cDNAs conferred Cd sensitivity in yeast, while expression of TcHMA4-C and AtHMA4-C cDNAs encoding the C-termini of, respectively, TcHMA4 and AtHMA4 conferred Cd tolerance. Moreover, heterologous expression in yeast suggested a higher Cd binding capacity of TcHMA4-C compared to AtHMA4-C. In planta, both HMA4 genes were expressed at a higher level in roots than in shoots. However, TcHMA4 shows a much higher constitutive expression than AtHMA4. Our data indicate that HMA4 could be involved in Cd(2+) transport and possibly in the Cd hyperaccumulation character.

Heavy metal specificity of cellular tolerance in two hyperaccumulating plants, Arabidopsis halleri and Thlaspi caerulescens.

• The cellular tolerance to nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd) of two poly-hyperaccumulators, Arabidopsis halleri and Thlaspi caerulescens, was investigated in order to compare their cellular phenotypes toward various metal ion exposures. • Protoplasts were kept for 24 h on solutions containing increasing concentrations of the metal ions, and a viability test was performed. Zinc loading of the protoplasts was investigated with Arabidopsis lyrata and A. halleri protoplasts using the Zn fluorescent indicator Newport green diacetate. • Only T. caerulescens protoplasts showed a clear tolerance to Ni. On the other hand, protoplasts from both hyperaccumulators displayed a very high and constitutive Zn tolerance and an inducible Cd tolerance. The vacuolar storage of Zn was confirmed, but no Zn accumulation at all was observed in A. halleri protoplasts after Zn exposure. • Specific metal tolerances were found at the cellular level in the hyperaccumulating plants, highlighting that specific adaptations to metal ions exist in the cells as well as in the whole plants.

Evidence of nickel (Ni) efflux in Ni-tolerant ectomycorhizal Pisolithus albus isolated from ultramafic soil.

Nickel (Ni)-tolerant ectomycorrhizal Pisolithus albus was isolated from extreme ultramafic soils that are naturally rich in heavy metals. This study aimed to identify the specific molecular mechanisms associated with the response of P. albus to nickel. In presence of high concentration of nickel, P. albus Ni-tolerant isolate showed a low basal accumulation of nickel in its fungal tissues and was able to perform a metal efflux mechanism. Three genes putatively involved in metal efflux were identified from the P. albus transcriptome, and their overexpression was confirmed in the mycelium that was cultivated in vitro in the presence of nickel and in fungal tissues that were sampled in situ. Cloning these genes in yeast provided significant advantages in terms of nickel tolerance (+ 31% Ni EC50) and growth (+ 83% µ) compared with controls. Furthermore, nickel efflux was also detected in the transformed yeast cells. Protein sequence analysis indicated that the genes encoded a P-type-ATPase, an ABC transporter and a major facilitator superfamily permease (MFS). This study sheds light on a global mechanism of metal efflux by P. albus cells that supports nickel tolerance. These specific responses to nickel might contribute to the fungal adaptation in ultramafic soil.

Ectomycorrhizal Pisolithus albus inoculation of Acacia spirorbis and Eucalyptus globulus grown in ultramafic topsoil enhances plant growth and mineral nutrition while limits metal uptake.

Ectomycorrhizal fungi (ECM) isolates of Pisolithus albus (Cooke and Massee) from nickel-rich ultramafic topsoils in New Caledonia were inoculated onto Acacia spirorbis Labill. (an endemic Fabaceae) and Eucalyptus globulus Labill. (used as a Myrtaceae plant host model). The aim of the study was to analyze the growth of symbiotic ECM plants growing on the ultramafic substrate that is characterized by high and toxic metal concentrations i.e. Co, Cr, Fe, Mn and Ni, deficient concentrations of plant essential nutrients such as N, P, K, and that presents an unbalanced Ca/Mg ratio (1/19). ECM inoculation was successful with a plant level of root mycorrhization up to 6.7%. ECM symbiosis enhanced plant growth as indicated by significant increases in shoot and root biomass. Presence of ECM enhanced uptake of major elements that are deficient in ultramafic substrates; in particular P, K and Ca. On the contrary, the ECM symbioses strongly reduced transfer to plants of element in excess in soils; in particular all metals. ECM-inoculated plants released metal complexing molecules as free thiols and oxalic acid mostly at lower concentrations than in controls. Data showed that ECM symbiosis helped plant growth by supplying uptake of deficient elements while acting as a protective barrier to toxic metals, in particular for plants growing on ultramafic substrate with extreme soil conditions. Isolation of indigenous and stress-adapted beneficial ECM fungi could serve as a potential tool for inoculation of ECM endemic plants for the successful restoration of ultramafic ecosystems degraded by mining activities.