Maria Harrison
Scientist
Office/Lab: Room 409/406
Contact: mjh78@cornell.edu / 607-254-6472
Affiliations:
Adjunct Professor in Cornell University’s Department of Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology
Research Summary
Most vascular flowering plants are able to form symbiotic associations with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. These associations, named ‘arbuscular mycorrhizas’, develop in the roots, where the fungus colonizes the cortex to access carbon supplied by the plant. The fungal contribution to the symbiosis includes the transfer of mineral nutrients, particularly phosphorus, from the soil to the plant. In many soils, phosphate exists at levels that are limiting for plant growth. Consequently, additional phosphate supplied via AM fungi can have a significant impact on plant development, and this symbiosis influences the structure of plant communities in ecosystems worldwide.
The long-term goals of our research are to understand the mechanisms underlying development of the AM symbiosis and phosphate transfer between the symbionts. A model legume, Medicago truncatula, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, Glomus versiforme, Glomus intraradices and Gigaspora gigantea are used for these analyses. Currently, a combination of molecular, cell biology, genetic and genomics approaches are being used to obtain insights into development of the symbiosis, communication between the plant and fungal symbionts, and symbiotic phosphate transport.
Publications
Liu, J, Maldonado-Mendoza, I.E., Lopez-Meyer, M. Cheung, F., Town, C. and Harrison, M.J. 2007. The arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis is accompanied by local and systemic alterations in gene expression and an increase in disease resistance in the shoots. Plant Journal 50: 529-544
Javot, H, N. Pumplin and M.J. Harrison. 2007. Phosphate in the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis: transport properties and regulatory roles. Plant Cell and Environment 30: 310-322
Xiao K, Liu, J., Dewbre, G.R., Harrison, M.J. and Wang Z.Y. 2006. Isolation and characterization of root-specific phosphate transporter promoters from Medicago truncatula. Plant Biology 8: 439-449
Shin, H, R. Chen and M.J. Harrison. 2006. Loss of At4 function impacts phosphate distribution between the roots and the shoots during phosphate starvation. Plant Journal 45: 712-726
Xiao, K., C. Zhang, M. J. Harrison, Z. Y. Wang. 2005. Isolation and Characterization of a Novel Plant Promoter that Directs Strong Constitutive Expression of Transgenes in Plants. Molecular Breeding 15: 221-231
Oldroyd, G. E., M. Harrison, M. Udvardi. 2005. Peace Talks and Trade Deals: Keys to Long-term Harmony in Legume-microbe Symbioses. Plant Physiology 137: 1205-1210
Maldonado-Mendoza, I. E., G. R. Dewbre, L. A. Blaylock, M. J. Harrison. 2005. Expression of a Xyloglucan Endotransglucosylase/hydrolase Gene, Mt-XTH1 from Medicago truncatula is Induced Systemically in Mycorrhizal Roots. Gene 345: 191-197
Ivashuta, S., J. Liu, J. Liu, D. P. Lohar, S. Haridas, B. Bucciarelli, K. A. VandenBosch, C. P. Vance, M. J. Harrison, J. S. Gantt. 2005. RNA Interference Identifies a Calcium-dependent Protein Kinase Involved in Medicago truncatula Root Development. Plant Cell 17: 2911-2921
Harrison, M. J., . 2005. Signaling in the Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis. Annual Review of Microbiology 59: 19-42
Xiao, K., M.J. Harrison and Z.Y. Wang. 2005. Transgenic expression of a novel M. truncatula phytase gene results in improved acquisition of organic phosphorus in Arabidopsis. Planta 222: 27-36
Hanks, J.N, A.K. Snyder, M.A. Graham, R.K. Shah, L.A. Blaylock, M.J. Harrison and D.M. Shah. 2005. Defensin gene family in Medicago truncatula: structure, expression and induction by signal molecules. Plant Molecular Biology 58: 385-399
Shin, H., G. R. Dewbre, M. J. Harrison. 2004. Phosphate Transport in Arabidopsis: Pht1;1 and Pht1;4 Play a Major Role in Phosphate Acquisition from both Low- and High-phosphate Environments. The Plant Journal 39: 629-642
Harrison M.J. and Baldwin I.T, . 2004. Ploy and counter ploy in the biotic interactions of plants. Current Opinions in Plant Biology 7: 353-355
Liu, J. Y., L. A. Blaylock, G. Endre, J. Cho, C. D. Town, K. A. VandenBosch, M. J. Harrison. 2003. Transcript Profiling Coupled with Spatial Expression Analyses Reveals Genes Involved in Distinct Developmental Stages of an Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis. Plant Cell 15: 2106-2123
Harrison, M. J., G. R. Dewbre, J. Liu. 2002. A phosphate transporter from Medicago truncatula involved in the acquisition of phosphate released by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Plant Cell 14: 2413-2429
Maldonado-Mendoza, I.E., G.R. Dewbre, M.L. van Buuren, W.K. Versaw and M.J. Harrison. 2002. Methods to estimate the proportion of plant and fungal RNA in an arbuscular mycorrhiza. Mycorrhiza 12: 67-74
Versaw, W.K. and M.J. Harrison, . 2002. A chloroplast phosphate transporter, PHT2;1, influences allocation of phosphate within the plant and phosphate-starvation responses. Plant Cell 14: 1751-1766
Versaw, W.K, Chiou, T.J. and Harrison, M.J. 2002. Phosphate transporters of Medicago truncatula and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Plant and Soil 244: 239-245
Lab Members
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