Resistance gene-dependent plant defense responses

The Ectopic Expression of the MpDIR1(t) Gene Enhances the Response of Plants from Arabidopsis thaliana to Biotic Stress by Regulating the Defense Genes and Antioxidant Flavonoids

The Defective in Induced Resistance 1 (DIR1) gene, a member of the lipid transferase proteins (LTPs), plays a crucial role in plant defense against pathogens. While previous transcriptomic studies have highlighted the significant expression of citrus LTPs during biotic stress, functional annotations of LTPs in the Citrus genera remain limited. In this study, we cloned the Murraya paniculata DIR1 (MpDIR1(t)) gene and overexpressed it in Arabidopsis thaliana to evaluate its stress response mechanisms against biotic stress. The transgenic Arabidopsis lines showed fewer disease symptoms in response to Pseudomonas syringae (Pst DC3000) compared to wild-type Arabidopsis. Defense and pathogenesis-responsive genes such as PR1, PR4, PR5, and WRKY12 were significantly induced, showing a 2- to 12-fold increase in all transgenic lines compared to the wild type. In addition, the Pst DC3000-infected transgenic Arabidopsis lines demonstrated elevated levels of flavonoids and salicylic acid (SA), along with higher expression of SA-related genes, compared to the wild type. Moreover, all transgenic lines possessed lower reactive oxygen species levels and higher activity of antioxidant defense enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase under Pst DC3000 stress compared to the wild type. The up-regulation of defense genes, activation of the SA pathway, accumulation of flavonoids, and reinforcement of antioxidant defense mechanisms in transgenic Arabidopsis lines in response to Pst DC3000 underscore the critical role of MpDIR1(t) in fortifying plant immunity. Thus, MpDIR1(t) constitutes a promising candidate gene for improving bacterial disease resistance in commercial citrus cultivars.

Integrating omics reveals that miRNA-guided genetic regulation on plant hormone level and defense response pathways shape resistance to Cladosporium fulvum in the tomato Cf-10-gene-carrying line

Invasion of C. fulvum causes the most serious diseases affecting the reproduction of tomatoes. Cf-10-gene-carrying line showed remarkable resistance to Cladosporium fulvum. To exploit its defense response mechanism, we performed a multiple-omics profiling of Cf-10-gene-carrying line and a susceptible line without carrying any resistance genes at non-inoculation and 3 days post-inoculation (dpi) of C. fulvum. We detected 54 differentially expressed miRNAs (DE-miRNAs) between the non-inoculation and 3 dpi in the Cf-10-gene-carrying line, which potentially regulated plant-pathogen interaction pathways and hormone signaling pathways. We also revealed 3,016 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the non-inoculated and 3 dpi in the Cf-10-gene-carrying line whose functions enriched in pathways that were potentially regulated by the DE-miRNAs. Integrating DE-miRNAs, gene expression and plant-hormone metabolites indicated a regulation network where the downregulation of miRNAs at 3 dpi activated crucial resistance genes to trigger host hypersensitive cell death, improved hormone levels and upregulated the receptors/critical responsive transcription factors (TFs) of plant hormones, to shape immunity to the pathogen. Notably, our transcriptome, miRNA and hormone metabolites profiling and qPCR analysis suggested that that the downregulation of miR9472 potentially upregulated the expression of SAR Deficient 1 (SARD1), a key regulator for ICS1 (Isochorismate Synthase 1) induction and salicylic acid (SA) synthesis, to improve the level of SA in the Cf-10-gene-carrying line. Our results exploited potential regulatory network and new pathways underlying the resistance to C. fulvum in Cf-10-gene-carrying line, providing a more comprehensive genetic circuit and valuable gene targets for modulating resistance to the virus.

Biofilm Formation and Structure in the Filamentous Fungus Fusarium graminearum, a Plant Pathogen

Biofilms are protective structures for pathogens of plants and animals, in which cells are shielded from host defense responses and antimicrobial treatments. Although biofilms are well studied in bacterial pathogens, their development and structure in filamentous fungi, as well as their role in pathogenicity, are poorly understood. We show that the economically important plant pathogen Fusarium graminearum, a filamentous fungus, forms biofilms in vitro, which adhere to polystyrene, a hydrophobic surface. The biofilms have complex hyphal structures surrounded by a polymeric matrix that consists primarily of polysaccharides and extracellular nucleic acids, and lack lipids. Pellicles are formed in liquid cultures, floating biofilm masses that are common in bacterial biofilms, and noted but undescribed in filamentous fungal biofilms. Commonly, F. graminearum grows as hyphal colonies; however, on media which lack electron acceptors, an altered morphology is formed with predominantly short, bulbous hyphae embedded in the matrix. Supplementation of the biofilm-inducing medium with an electron acceptor restores the filamentous hyphal morphology, demonstrating that the formation of bulbous hyphae is due, at least in part, to oxidative stress. Plant hosts infected with pathogens generally respond by producing reactive oxygen species, commonly produced as a defense response. Thus, the formation of biofilms strongly suggests a role in protecting cells from host responses during the course of plant disease. IMPORTANCE Fusarium graminearum is a filamentous fungal pathogen that causes Fusarium head blight (FHB) in cereal crops, leading to devastating crop losses. We have demonstrated the ability of this pathogen to form biofilms. Biofilms are likely to be important in the disease cycle of F. graminearum and other plant pathogens, protecting cells from plant defenses and environmental conditions. Towards this end, we have characterized the formation of biofilms in F. graminearum in vitro, which, together with ongoing characterization of their association with host plants, provides a basis for understanding the functionality of biofilms in the pathogen disease cycle.

Ambiguities of PGPR-Induced Plant Signaling and Stress Management

The growth and stress responses developed by the plant in virtue of the action of PGPR are dictated by the changes in hormone levels and related signaling pathways. Each plant possesses its specific type of microbiota that is shaped by the composition of root exudates and the signal molecules produced by the plant and microbes. Plants convey signals through diverse and complex signaling pathways. The signaling pathways are also controlled by phytohormones wherein they regulate and coordinate various defense responses and developmental stages. On account of improved growth and stress tolerance provided by the PGPR to plants, there exist crosstalk of signaling events between phytohormones and other signaling molecules secreted by the plants and the PGPR. This review discusses some of the important aspects related to the ambiguities of signaling events occurring in plants, allowing the interaction of PGPR with plants and providing stress tolerance to the plant.

Ciboria carunculoides Suppresses Mulberry Immune Responses Through Regulation of Salicylic Acid Signaling

Ciboria carunculoides is the dominant causal agent of mulberry sclerotial disease, and it is a necrotrophic fungal pathogen with a narrow host range that causes devastating diseases in mulberry fruit. However, little is known about the interaction between C. carunculoides and mulberry. Here, our transcriptome sequencing results showed that the transcription of genes in the secondary metabolism and defense-related hormone pathways were significantly altered in infected mulberry fruit. Due to the antimicrobial properties of proanthocyanidins (PAs), the activation of PA biosynthetic pathways contributes to defense against pathogens. Salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) are major plant defense hormones. However, SA signaling and JA signaling are antagonistic to each other. Our results showed that SA signaling was activated, while JA signaling was inhibited, in mulberry fruit infected with C. carunculoides. Yet SA mediated responses are double-edged sword against necrotrophic pathogens, as SA not only activates systemic acquired resistance (SAR) but also suppresses JA signaling. We also show here that the small secreted protein CcSSP1 of C. carunculoides activates SA signaling by targeting pathogenesis-related protein 1 (PR1). These findings reveal that the infection strategy of C. carunculoides functions by regulating SA signaling to inhibit host defense responses.

Shifting paradigms and novel players in Cys-based redox regulation and ROS signaling in plants - and where to go next

Cys-based redox regulation was long regarded a major adjustment mechanism of photosynthesis and metabolism in plants, but in the recent years, its scope has broadened to most fundamental processes of plant life. Drivers of the recent surge in new insights into plant redox regulation have been the availability of the genome-scale information combined with technological advances such as quantitative redox proteomics and in vivo biosensing. Several unexpected findings have started to shift paradigms of redox regulation. Here, we elaborate on a selection of recent advancements, and pinpoint emerging areas and questions of redox biology in plants. We highlight the significance of (1) proactive H₂O₂ generation, (2) the chloroplast as a unique redox site, (3) specificity in thioredoxin complexity, (4) how to oxidize redox switches, (5) governance principles of the redox network, (6) glutathione peroxidase-like proteins, (7) ferroptosis, (8) oxidative protein folding in the ER for phytohormonal regulation, (9) the apoplast as an unchartered redox frontier, (10) redox regulation of respiration, (11) redox transitions in seed germination and (12) the mitochondria as potential new players in reductive stress safeguarding. Our emerging understanding in plants may serve as a blueprint to scrutinize principles of reactive oxygen and Cys-based redox regulation across organisms.

Time-series expression profiling of sugarcane leaves infected with Puccinia kuehnii reveals an ineffective defense system leading to susceptibility

Successful orange rust development on sugarcane can potentially be explained as suppression of the plant immune system by the pathogen or delayed plant signaling to trigger defense responses. Puccinia kuehnii is an obligate biotrophic fungus that infects sugarcane leaves causing a disease called orange rust. It spread out to other countries resulting in reduction of crop yield since its first outbreak. One of the knowledge gaps of that pathosystem is to understand the molecular mechanisms altered in susceptible plants by this biotic stress. Here, we investigated the changes in temporal expression of transcripts in pathways associated with the immune system. To achieve this purpose, we used RNA-Seq to analyze infected leaf samples collected at five time points after inoculation. Differential expression analyses of adjacent time points revealed substantial changes at 12, 48 h after inoculation and 12 days after inoculation, coinciding with the events of spore germination, haustoria post-penetration and post-sporulation, respectively. During the first 24 h, a lack of transcripts involved with resistance mechanisms was revealed by underrepresentation of hypersensitive and defense response related genes. However, two days after inoculation, upregulation of genes involved with immune response regulation provided evidence of some potential defense response. Events related to biotic stress responses were predominantly downregulated in the initial time points, but expression was later restored to basal levels. Genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism showed evidence of repression followed by upregulation, possibly to ensure the pathogen nutritional requirements were met. Our results support the hypothesis that P. kuehnii initially suppressed sugarcane genes involved in plant defense systems. Late overexpression of specific regulatory pathways also suggests the possibility of an inefficient recognition system by a susceptible sugarcane genotype.

When a Plant Resistance Inducer Leaves the Lab for the Field: Integrating ASM into Routine Apple Protection Practices

Plant resistance inducers, also called elicitors, could be useful to reduce the use of pesticides. However, their performance in controlling diseases in the field remains unsatisfactory due to lack of specific knowledge of how they can integrate crop protection practices. In this work, we focused on apple crop and acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM), a well-known SAR (systemic acquired resistance) inducer of numerous plant species. We provide a protocol for orchard-effective control of apple scab due to the ascomycete fungus Venturia inaequalis, by applying ASM in combination with a light integrated pest management program. Besides we pave the way for future optimization levers by demonstrating in controlled conditions (i) the high influence of apple genotypes, (ii) the ability of ASM to prime defenses in newly formed leaves, (iii) the positive effect of repeated elicitor applications, (iv) the additive effect of a thinning fruit agent.

Genetic control of immunity to Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) pathotype 1 in Brassica rapa (Chinese cabbage)

Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) is the major virus infecting crops of the genus Brassica worldwide. A dominant resistance gene, TuRB01b, that confers immunity to the virus isolate UK 1 (a representative pathotype 1 isolate of TuMV) on Brassica rapa was identified in the Chinese cabbage cultivar Tropical Delight. The TuRB01b locus was mapped to a 2.9-cM interval on B. rapa chromosome 6 (A6) that was flanked by RFLP markers pN101e1 and pW137e1. This mapping used a first backcross (B(1)) population segregating for the resistance gene at TuRB01b and sets of RFLP markers employed in previous mapping experiments in Brassica. Virus-plant interaction phenotypes were assayed in inbred progeny derived from B(1) individuals to allow different virus isolates to be tested. Comparative mapping confirmed that A6 of B. rapa was equivalent to chromosome 6 of Brassica napus (A6) and that the map position of TuRB01b in B. rapa could be identical to that of TuRB01 in B. napus. Detailed evaluation of plant-virus interactions showed that TuRB01 and TuRB01b had indistinguishable specificities to a range of TuMV isolates. The possibility that TuRB01 and TuRB01b represent similar or identical alleles at the same A genome resistance locus suggests that B. napus acquired TuRB01 from the B. rapa gene pool.

Photocontrol of Elicitor Activity of PIP-1 to Investigate Temporal Factors Involved in Phytoalexin Biosynthesis

The peptide elicitor PIP-1 can induce various immune responses in tobacco cells. Previously, we showed that types of responses induced by PIP-1 are different depending on its stimulation periods; short-term stimulation induces weak responses, whereas long-term stimulation leads to strong responses including production of the phytoalexin capsidiol. However, key components that directly regulate the initiation of capsidiol biosynthesis in response to continuous stimulation with PIP-1 remain unclear. In this study, we designed a photocleavable PIP-1 analog containing 3-amino-3-(2-nitrophenyl)propionic acid as a photocleavable residue. The activity of the analog can be "switched off" using ultraviolet (UV) irradiation without undesired side effects. This analog induced a significant level of capsidiol production unless UV-irradiated, whereas no capsidiol production was observed when tobacco cells were UV-irradiated 1 h after treatment. Using this analog, we found that the elicitor-inducible 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase activity is regulated based on the duration of the stimulation with PIP-1, which could be associated with the initiation of capsidiol biosynthesis.

Comparative transcript profiling by SuperSAGE identifies novel candidate genes for controlling potato quantitative resistance to late blight not compromised by late maturity

Resistance to pathogens is essential for survival of wild and cultivated plants. Pathogen susceptibility causes major losses of crop yield and quality. Durable field resistance combined with high yield and other superior agronomic characters are therefore, important objectives in every crop breeding program. Precision and efficacy of resistance breeding can be enhanced by molecular diagnostic tools, which result from knowledge of the molecular basis of resistance and susceptibility. Breeding uses resistance conferred by single R genes and polygenic quantitative resistance. The latter is partial but considered more durable. Molecular mechanisms of plant pathogen interactions are elucidated mainly in experimental systems involving single R genes, whereas most genes important for quantitative resistance in crops like potato are unknown. Quantitative resistance of potato to Phytophthora infestans causing late blight is often compromised by late plant maturity, a negative agronomic character. Our objective was to identify candidate genes for quantitative resistance to late blight not compromised by late plant maturity. We used diagnostic DNA-markers to select plants with different field levels of maturity corrected resistance (MCR) to late blight and compared their leaf transcriptomes before and after infection with P. infestans using SuperSAGE (serial analysis of gene expression) technology and next generation sequencing. We identified 2034 transcripts up or down regulated upon infection, including a homolog of the kiwi fruit allergen kiwellin. 806 transcripts showed differential expression between groups of genotypes with contrasting MCR levels. The observed expression patterns suggest that MCR is in part controlled by differential transcript levels in uninfected plants. Functional annotation suggests that, besides biotic and abiotic stress responses, general cellular processes such as photosynthesis, protein biosynthesis, and degradation play a role in MCR.

Genomic advances will herald new insights into the Brassica: Leptosphaeria maculans pathosystem

The study of the relationship between plants and phytopathogenic fungi is one of the most rapidly moving fields in the plant sciences, the findings of which have contributed to the development of new strategies and technologies to protect crops. Plants employ sophisticated mechanisms to perceive and appropriately defend themselves against pathogens. A good example of plant and pathogen evolution is the gene-for-gene interaction between the fungal pathogen Leptosphaeria maculans, the causal agent of blackleg disease, and Brassica crops. This interaction has been studied at the genetic and physiological level due to its agro-economic importance. The newly available genome sequence for Brassica spp. and L. maculans will provide the resources to study the co-evolution of this plant and pathogen. Particularly, an understanding of the co-evolution of genes responsible for virulence and resistance will lead to improved plant protection strategies for Brassica canola and provide a model to understand plant-pathogen interactions in other major crops. This review summarises the research-to-date in the study of the Brassica-L. maculans gene-for-gene interaction, with a focus on the genetics of resistance in Brassica and the wealth of information to be gained from genome sequencing efforts.

The elicitation of a systemic resistance by Pseudomonas putida BTP1 in tomato involves the stimulation of two lipoxygenase isoforms

BACKGROUND

Some non-pathogenic rhizobacteria called Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) possess the capacity to induce in plant defense mechanisms effective against pathogens. Precedent studies showed the ability of Pseudomonas putida BTP1 to induce PGPR-mediated resistance, termed ISR (Induced Systemic Resistance), in different plant species. Despite extensive works, molecular defense mechanisms involved in ISR are less well understood that in the case of pathogen induced systemic acquired resistance.

RESULTS

We analyzed the activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and lipoxygenase (LOX), key enzymes of the phenylpropanoid and oxylipin pathways respectively, in tomato treated or not with P. putida BTP1. The bacterial treatment did not stimulate PAL activity and linoleate-consuming LOX activities. Linolenate-consuming LOX activity, on the contrary, was significantly stimulated in P. putida BTP1-inoculated plants before and two days after infection by B. cinerea. This stimulation is due to the increase of transcription level of two isoforms of LOX: TomLoxD and TomLoxF, a newly identified LOX gene. We showed that recombinant TomLOXF preferentially consumes linolenic acid and produces 13-derivative of fatty acids. After challenging with B. cinerea, the increase of transcription of these two LOX genes and higher linolenic acid-consuming LOX activity were associated with a more rapid accumulation of free 13-hydroperoxy-octadecatrienoic and 13-hydroxy-octadecatrienoic acids, two antifungal oxylipins, in bacterized plants.

CONCLUSION

In addition to the discovery of a new LOX gene in tomato, this work is the first to show differential induction of LOX isozymes and a more rapid accumulation of 13-hydroperoxy-octadecatrienoic and 13-hydroxy-octadecatrienoic acids in rhizobacteria mediated-induced systemic resistance.

Phytoalexins from crucifers: synthesis, biosynthesis, and biotransformation

Phytoalexins play a significant role in the defense response of plants. These secondary metabolites, which are synthesized de novo in response to diverse forms of stress, including fungal infection, are part of the plants' chemical and biochemical defense mechanisms. Phytoalexins from crucifers are structurally and biogenetically related, but display significantly different biological activities. Here, we review work reporting the chemical structures, synthesis, biosynthesis and metabolism of cruciferous phytoalexins, as well as their biological activity towards different microorganisms.