Enemy at the gates: interaction-specific stomatal responses to pathogenic challenge.
Elena Prats1, Timothy Lw Carver, Alan P Gay
1Institute of Sustainable Agriculture; Córdoba, Spain.
Plant Signaling & Behavior
|August 26, 2009
Summary
Plant resistance genes can cause stomatal locking, a dysfunction where stomata remain open or closed. This unexpected consequence of major (R) gene resistance negatively impacts plant performance.
Area of Science:
- Plant pathology
- Plant physiology
- Molecular plant-microbe interactions
Background:
- Stomata are crucial for plant gas exchange and can close during pathogen responses, potentially aiding resistance.
- In cereal pathosystems, stomatal closure is observed after compatible infections.
- Hypersensitive responses (HR) triggered by major (R) genes in incompatible interactions lead to distinct stomatal dysfunctions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the consequences of R gene-mediated hypersensitive responses on stomatal function.
- To identify potential physiological costs associated with R gene-based plant immunity.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of stomatal behavior in cereal plants following powdery mildew and rust infections.
- Observation of stomatal responses in both compatible and incompatible plant-pathogen interactions.
- Assessment of the long-term effects of R gene expression on stomatal aperture.
Main Results:
- Incompatible interactions involving major (R) genes result in permanent stomatal locking.
- Powdery mildew attack leads to stomata being locked open.
- Rust attack causes stomata to be locked shut.
Conclusions:
- Stomatal locking is an unforeseen negative outcome of R gene-controlled resistance.
- This R gene-induced stomatal dysfunction imposes a physiological cost on plant performance.
- Understanding stomatal locking is crucial for evaluating the overall effectiveness of R gene-mediated resistance.
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