Medicago truncatula

The model legume Medicago truncatula, a close relative of alfalfa, is a diploid and self-fertile species, with a relatively small genome (4 times that of Arabidopsis thaliana). It is an increasingly popular model plant which is now used worldwide, in particular for studying the molecular genetics of root symbioses : the nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with the rhizobial bacteria and the endomycorrhizal symbiosis with glomalean fungi (Arabidopsis does not form either symbiosis).

The aim of this project is to generate a M. truncatula EST database by sequencing 3 x 5,000 clones (both 5’ and 3’) sampled from each of 3 cDNA libraries derived from young root nodules (symbiosis with Sinorhizobium meliloti), mycorrhizal roots (symbiosis with Glomus intraradices), and control roots.

Laboratories involved :

• LBMRPM, UMR 215 CNRS-INRA, Toulouse (Pascal Gamas and Etienne-Pascal Journet)
• LPA, INRA-CNRS, INRA-Dijon (Diederik van Tuinen and Vivienne Gianinazzi-Pearson)