Lene H. Madsen

TL;DR: Two LysM-type serine/threonine receptor kinase genes, NFR1 and NFR5 are described, enabling the model legume Lotus japonicus to recognize its bacterial microsymbiont Mesorhizobium loti and their role in the mechanism establishing susceptibility of the legume root for bacterial infection is demonstrated.

TL;DR: The cloning of a putative Nod-factor receptor kinase gene (NFR5) from Lotus japonicus is described, suggesting that a plant receptor is involved in signal perception and signal transduction initiating the plant developmental response.

TL;DR: HAR1 encodes a putative serine/threonine receptor kinase, which is required for shoot-controlled regulation of root growth, nodule number, and for nitrate sensitivity of symbiotic development.

TL;DR: It is shown that perception of the phytohormone cytokinin is a key element in this switch that leads to spontaneous development of root nodules in the absence of rhizobia or rhizobial signal molecules.

TL;DR: It is shown that host-encoded mechanisms control three alternative entry processes operating in the epidermis, the root cortex and at the single cell level, which provides support for the origin of rhizobial infection through direct intercellular epidermal invasion and subsequent evolution of crack entry and root hair invasions observed in most extant legumes.