Kathryn Kingsley

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey | Rutgers · Department of Plant Biology and Pathology

Phragmites australis is a cosmopolitan grass species common in wetland ecosystems across the world. In much of North America, the non-native subspecies of Phragmites threatens wetland biodiversity, hinders recreation, and is a persistent problem for natural resource managers. In other parts of the world, populations are in decline, as Reed Die-Back...

Plant growth-promoting bacteria are generating increasing interest in the agricultural industry as a promising alternative to traditional chemical fertilizers; however, much of the focus has been on rhizosphere bacteria. Bacterial endophytes are another promising source of plant growth-promoting bacteria, and though many plants have already been pr...

We used light and confocal microscopy to visualize bacteria in leaf and bract cells of more than 30 species in 18 families of seed plants. Through histochemical analysis, we detected hormones (including ethylene and nitric oxide), superoxide, and nitrogenous chemicals (including nitric ox-ide and nitrate) around bacteria within plant cells. Bacteri...

Plants naturally carry microbes on seeds and within seeds that may facilitate development and early survival of seedlings. Some crops have lost seed-vectored microbes in the process of domestication or during seed storage and seed treatment. Biostimulant microbes from wild plants were used by pre-modern cultures to re-acquire beneficial seed microb...

Background Place of origin is an important factor when determining the quality and authenticity of Angelica sinensis for medicinal use. It is important to trace the origin and confirm the regional characteristics of medicinal products for sustainable industrial development. Effectively tracing and confirming the material’s origin may be accomplishe...

Plants naturally carry microbes on seeds and within seeds that may facilitate development and early survival of seedlings. Some crops have lost seed-vectored microbes in the process of domestication or during seed storage and seed treatment. Biostimulant microbes from wild plants were used by pre-modern cultures to re-acquire beneficial seed microb...

Desert plants are zonal vegetation with unique functional traits and resource trade-offs in arid areas. The trade-off relationship among functional traits and adversity strategies of desert plants play a key role in their community construction. We investigated 16 leaf functional traits of the dominant desert plants, including15 shrubs and 11 herbs...

In this research, we conducted histochemical, inhibitor and other experiments to evaluate the chemical interactions between intracellular bacteria and plant cells. As a result of these experiments, we hypothesize two chemical interactions between bacteria and plant cells. The first chemical interaction between endophyte and plant is initiated by mi...

Supplemental movie file 1: Ejection of microbes from root hairs into the rhizosphere.�� This is a supplemental movie file for article: Plant root hairs and rhizophagy cycle: Developmental interactions and nutrient absorptive functions. Article authors include: � James White, Xiaoqian Chang, Peerapol Chiaranunt, Kathryn L. Kingsley, Qiuwei Zhang�. T...

This data documents the endophytic (intracellular) colonization of annual bluegrass roots by two commercially available strains of Bacillus. Bacteria are shown to enter cells at the root tip meristems. The stain used in this study was crystal violet. Good visibility of the intracellular bacteria is seen in plant roots using crystal violet. We also...

Endophytes are microbes (mostly bacteria and fungi) present in plants. Endophytic microbes are often functional in that they may carry nutrients from the soil into plants, modulate plant development, increase stress tolerance of plants, suppress virulence in pathogens, increase disease resistance in plants, and suppress development of competitor pl...

Core Ideas Fungal diversity exhibits a longitudinal gradient in saline soils. Soil moisture, then salinity and total potassium, were the main environmental drivers of fungal communities. Environmental variables were more important than geographical distance to variation in trophic guilds. The fungal community assembly was mainly stochastic. Soil s...

Abstract: The rhizophagy cycle is a nutritional process where nutrients are extracted from microbes oxidatively in roots. In the rhizophagy cycle, microbes alternate between a free-living phase in soil and a plant-dependent protoplast phase inside plant root cells. Microbes acquire nutrients (protein and minerals) in the soil phase, and nutrients a...

Arsenic (As) is a toxic compound for human health and ecosystems. Some organisms have developed different strategies to live in environments contaminated with arsenic (As-tolerant organisms). Some prokaryotes are able to use arsenic as a donor or acceptor of electrons through respiratory processes (arsenic oxidizer and reducer bacteria). Certain pl...

Arsenic (As) is a toxic compound for human health and ecosystems. Some organisms have developed different strategies to live in environments contaminated with arsenic (As-tolerant organisms). Some bacteria, are able to use arsenic as a donor or acceptor of electrons through respiratory processes (arsenic oxidizer and reducer bacteria). Certain plan...

This data set shows results of an experiment to assess the effects of elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide on the rhizophagy cycle and root hair elongation in winter wheat grown in potting mix. Elevated CO2 (0.06%) in air was shown to inhibit the rhizophagy cycle and root hair elongation, compared to plants grown in air with non-elevated CO2 (0.04%)...

This data set reports results of an experiment examining the effect of elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide on reactive oxygen extraction of nutrients from endophytic microbes in tall fescue seedling roots. Elevated carbon dioxide suppressed superoxide formation in root cells. This resulted in reduced conversion of bacteria in cells to form protopla...

Background/Question/Methods. The rhizophagy cycle is a nutritional process where nutrients are extracted from microbes oxidatively in roots. In the rhizophagy cycle, microbes alternate between a free-living phase in soil and a plant-dependent protoplast phase inside plant root cells. Microbes acquire nutrients (protein and minerals) in the soil pha...

This power point presentation shows results of experiments to assess the effect of elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide on the rhizophagy cycle in tomato seedlings. Elevated CO2 was found to reduce oxidation of microbes in root hairs and other root epidermal cells. Elevated CO2 resulted in fewer microbes in root hairs--and as a consequence root hair...

This power point file describes an experiment to evaluate effects of elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide on the rhizophagy cycle in winter wheat. 150 ppm additional CO2 in air (in sealed gas chambers) was shown to inhibit the rhizophagy cycle in winter wheat seedlings by suppressing conversion of bacteria in root cells into protoplast stages. Witho...

This powerpoint file describes experiments to evaluate effects of elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide on the rhizophagy cycle in winter wheat. 150 ppm additional CO2 in air (in sealed gas chambers) was shown to inhibit the rhizophagy cycle in winter wheat seedlings by suppressing production of superoxide around microbes in outer layers of root tips...

Plants ‘Farm’ and ‘Consume’ Symbiotic Microbes: Plants cultivate microbes (fungi and bacteria) around roots by secreting root exudates (containing sugars and other nutrients) into the soil around roots. The microbes cultivated by plants scavenge nutrients (nitrogen, iron, zinc, molybdenum, etc.) in the soils around roots. In the ‘rhizophagy cycle’...

Cereal grasses carry a small community of symbiotic bacteria on surfaces and interiors of seeds. These bacteria include species of Bacillus, Enterobacter, Methylobacterium, Pseudomonas, and Pantoea, among others. When the seed germinates the symbiotic bacteria colonize seedling root and shoot meristems and become distributed throughout the plant; s...

Slides given at the global connect conference in Philadelphia Oct. 2, 2018. Presentation was about the rhizophagy cycle in cereals.

In this paper, we describe a mechanism for the transfer of nutrients from symbiotic microbes (bacteria and fungi) to host plant roots that we term the ‘rhizophagy cycle.’ In the rhizophagy cycle, microbes alternate between a root intracellular endophytic phase and a free-living soil phase. Microbes acquire soil nutrients in the free-living soil pha...

Background/Questions/Methods (objective and methods): Plants possess seed-transmitted host-adapted endophytic microbes that play roles in modulation of plant development, improvement of oxidative stress resistance, and acquisition of nutrients to support plant growth. Invasive plants (e.g., Phragmites australis) support a suite of microbes that hav...

Data for ESA meeting presentation: We show here that Micrococcus luteus is a parasite of the rhizophagy cycle in Rumex crispus and likely other plants where growth is suppressed. We tracked an endophytic bacterium Micrococcus luteus (isolated from tomato seedlings) through root tissues of Rumex crispus. Micrococcus was partially compatible with Rum...

This invention pertains to the use of endophytic microbes as bioherbicides to suppress growth and development of weed plants. Several of the endophytes were shown to suppress development of seedlings of dandelion (Taraxacum officionale), curly dock (Rumex crispus), clover (Trifolium repens), Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) and annual bluegras...

In this chapter we propose a model for the early evolution of eukaryotic cells under pressure of intense endoparasitism. Defining features of eukaryotes developed to defend against endoparasites (primarily bacteria), including a defensive system composed of an antioxidant sterol-enriched internal and external membrane system that could be used to e...

The rhizophagy cycle is a process whereby plants obtain nutrients from bacteria that alternate between a root intracellular endophytic phase and a free-living soil phase. Bacteria acquire soil nutrients in the free-living soil phase; nutrients are extracted from bacteria oxidatively in the intracellular endophytic phase. In this process plants mani...

The rhizophagy cycle is a hypothesized process whereby plants obtain nutrients from bacteria that alternate between a root intracellular endophytic phase and a free-living soil phase. Bacteria acquire soil nutrients in the free-living soil phase; nutrients are extracted from bacteria oxidatively in the intracellular endophytic phase [1]. We conduct...

PDF FILE OF SPAIN ENDOPHYTE SYMPOSIUM PRESENTATION: The rhizophagy cycle is a process whereby plants obtain nutrients from bacteria that alternate between a root intracellular endophytic phase and a free-living soil phase. Bacteria acquire soil nutrients in the free-living soil phase; nutrients are extracted from bacteria oxidatively in the intrace...

Abstract for invited presentation at a symposium on plant-microbe networks organized by Mark Holland at the joint meeting of the Mid-Atlantic Section-American Society of Plant Biologists and University of Maryland Plant Symposium - May 22-23, 2018 at the University of Maryland College Park, MD.

Plant seeds carry a community of symbiotic bacteria on surfaces of and within seeds. When a seed germinates bacteria are triggered to colonize root and shoot meristems and become distributed throughout the plant; simultaneously bacteria colonize the rhizosphere where they reduce growth of soil pathogens and suppress colonization of seedlings by pat...

Presentation/seminar on Endoparasitism-Driven Eukaryogenesis to be given at Lanzhao University, China May 6-20, 2018. Seminar covers most of what is contained in the chapter 'Reactive Oxygen Defense Against Cellular Endoparasites and the Origin of Eukaryotes'.

This dataset summarizes results of an experiment to evaluate whether seed surface-vectored microbes contribute to resistance of seedlings of basil (Ocimum basilicum) to damping-off disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum. This experiment shows that removal of microbes from seeds results in basal seedlings that are both developmentally compromised and...

Invasive plant species possess features that permit them to outcompete native species of plants. Previous research suggests that among these features are root endosymbiotic bacteria that may give an edge to invading species of plants in increasing nutrient acquisition, growth, disease resistance and stress tolerance of hosts. In this research we in...

Non-cultivated plants carry microbial endophytes that may be used to enhance development and disease resistance of crop species where growth-promoting and protective microbes may have been lost. During seedling establishment, seedlings may be infected by several fungal pathogens that are seed or soil borne. Several species of Fusarium, Pythium and...

Non-­-cultivated plants carry microbial endophytes that may be used to enhance development and disease resistance of crop species where growth promotional and protective microbes may have been lost. During seedling establishment, seedlings may be infected by several fungal pathogens that are seed or soil borne. Several species of Fusarium, Pythium...

In this chapter we present a hypothesis, and data supporting it, that vascular plants in diverse families possess symbiotic/endophytic bacteria that frequently vector on or within their seeds; seedlings degrade symbiotic bacteria within roots. Evidence of widespread microbivory was found in a survey for intracellular bacteria that we conducted incl...

During a survey conducted from May 2015 to June 2016, fruit rot symptoms were observed on young fruit of Bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) grown in open fields of Islamabad territory (33°43′17″ N, 73°02′35″ E), Rawalpindi (33° 37' 00'' N, 73°4'00'' E) and Chakwal (32°56′00″ N, 72°51′30″ E) districts in Punjab, Pakistan. Symptoms appeared as small li...

Turf grass seeds carry a small community of symbiotic bacteria on paleas and lemmas on the surfaces of seeds—and sometimes within the seed itself. These bacteria include species of Bacillus, Pseudomonas, and Pantoea, among others. When the seed germinates the symbiotic bacteria colonize seedling root and shoot meristems and become distributed throu...

Turf grass seeds carry a small community of symbiotic bacteria on paleas and lemmas on the surfaces of seeds-and sometimes within the seed itself. These bacteria include species of Bacillus, Pseudomonas, and Pantoea, among others. When the seed germinates the symbiotic bacteria colonize seedling root and shoot meristems and become distributed throu...

Smooth crabgrass [Digitaria ischaemum (Schreb) Schreb ex Muhl Schreb.] and annual bluegrass (Poa annua L.) are competitive early successional species that are usually considered weeds in agricultural and turfgrass systems. Bacteria and fungi associated with these weeds may contribute to their competitiveness. Smooth crabgrass and annual bluegrass s...

Background and Aims. Non-native Phragmites australis (haplotype M) is an invasive grass that decreases biodiversity and produces dense stands. We hypothesized that seeds of Phragmites carry microbes that improve seedling growth, defend against pathogens and maximize capacity of seedlings to compete with other plants. Methods. We isolated bacteria...

Background and Aims: Leersia oryzoides, a wild relative of rice (Oryza sativa), may carry potential seed-borne bacterial endophytes which could be used to enhance growth of rice. We hypothesized that seed-associated bacteria from L. oryzoides would be compatible with rice and promote seedling growth, development, and survival. Methods: We isolated...

In this chapter we propose a model for the early evolution of eukaryotic cells under pressure of intense endoparasitism. Defining features of eukaryotes developed to defend against endoparasites (primarily bacteria), including a defensive system composed of an antioxidant sterol-enriched internal and external membrane system that could be used to e...

This figure explains the role of organic acids in the rhizophagy cycle. Organic acids are secreted by plant roots to mimic productive bacterial biofilms that produce organic acids as anaerobic fermentation products. This attracts bacteria to the root surface biofilm. We hypothesize that plants then absorb organic acids into the meristem cells. This...

Microbial endophytes (both fungal and bacterial) have been found to colonize all plants. Endophytes have been shown to promote plant growth, suppress disease microbes, deter herbivory, and enhance disease and stress resistance. This presentation examines evidence that some bacterial endophytes function in bringing soil nutrients (macro and micronut...

Diagrammatic representation of the proposed rhizophagy cycle. The rhizophagy cycle is a process whereby plants obtain nutrients from bacteria that alternate between an intracellular endophytic phase and a free-living soil phase. Bacteria acquire soil nutrients in the free-living soil phase; nutrients are extracted from bacteria oxidatively in the...

Abstract for annual meeting of the Mycological Society of America (Athens, GA; July 15-19, 2017): Non-cultivated plants carry endophytes that may be used to enhance deveolopment and disease resistance of crops. During seedling establishment, rice may be infected by fungal pathogens. Species of Fusarium and Pythium cause rice seed rot during germina...

Endophytes are microorganisms that live inside of a host, typically a plant, without harming it. The interactions between endophytes and their hosts still remain largely undetermined. A relationship was found between the presence of an intracellular bacterial endophyte and root hair development in beefsteak tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) seedlings....

This presentation summarizes progress to date on development of a control strategy for invasive Phragmites australis by using environmentally-safe compounds to disrupt the symbiosis between the bacteria and the plant. In this presentation we identify three short chain fatty acids (acetic, propionic and butyric acids) that show promise for controlli...

The attached data set describes experiments, results, and conclusions regarding the effects of the short-chain fatty acid, propionic acid, on symbiotic interactions between the grass Poa annua and its bacterial endophyte. Propionic acid causes effects in both plant and microbe. In the plant propionic acid induces a thick extracellular matrix layer...

Bacterial endophytes live inside all the tissuse of plants and benefit them in several ways. The aim of present study was to evaluate the effects of the removal of indigenous bacteria from rice seeds on seedling growth and development. Seed associated bacteria were removed using surface sterilization with NaOCl followed by antibiotic treatment. Gro...

Background and Aims. Non-native Phragmites australis (haplotype M) is an invasive grass that decreases biodiversity and produces dense stands. We hypothesized that seeds of Phragmites carry microbes that improve seedling growth, defend against pathogens and maximize capacity of seedlings to compete with other plants. Methods. We isolated bacteria...

In accordance with the present invention, a method for increasing root and shoot growth of grass plant hosts is provided. An exemplary method comprises artificially inoculating the host grass with one or more biologically pure endophyte strains wherein bacterial strains confer protection to the host grass. Preferably, one or more bacteria used alon...