摘要：After a century of investigations, the function of the obligate betaproteobacterial endosymbionts accommodated in leaf nodules of tropical
Rubiaceae remained enigmatic. We report that the α-
d-glucose analogue (+)-streptol, systemically supplied by mature
Ca.
Burkholderia kirkii nodules to their
Psychotria hosts, exhibits potent and selective root growth inhibiting activity. We provide compelling evidence that (+)-streptol specifically affects meristematic root cells transitioning to anisotropic elongation by disrupting cell wall organization in a mechanism of action that is distinct from canonical cellulose biosynthesis inhibitors. We observed no inhibitory or cytotoxic effects on organisms other than seed plants, further suggesting (+)-streptol as a
bona fide allelochemical. We propose that the suppression of growth of plant competitors is a major driver of the formation and maintenance of the
Psychotria–Burkholderia association. In addition to potential agricultural applications as a herbicidal agent, (+)-streptol might also prove useful to dissect plant cell and organ growth processes.
