Systemic Root-Shoot Signaling Drives Jasmonate-Based Root Defense against Nematodes
Guoting Wang1, Chaoyi Hu1, Jie Zhou2
1College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zijingang Campus, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 310058, PR China.
Current Biology : CB
|October 8, 2019
Summary
Plant roots signal to shoots using electrical and ROS signals to activate jasmonate (JA) defenses against root-knot nematodes (RKNs). This root-shoot communication enhances plant resistance to herbivores.
Area of Science:
- Plant Biology
- Plant Pathology
- Molecular Signaling
Background:
- Plant adaptation to environmental stress relies on shoot-root communication.
- Jasmonate (JA) synthesis is key for defense against rhizosphere herbivores, but the underlying signaling pathways are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the systemic signaling mechanisms involved in plant defense against root-knot nematodes (RKNs).
- To investigate the role of electrical signals, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and jasmonates (JAs) in root-shoot communication during RKN infestation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized grafting experiments with specific tomato mutants (glutamate receptor-like 3.5, respiratory burst oxidase homolog 1).
- Monitored electrical and ROS signals, JA accumulation, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MPK) activation in response to RKN infection.
- Employed gene silencing techniques for MPK1 and MPK2.
Main Results:
- RKN infection triggered systemic electrical and ROS signals from roots to leaves, increasing JA accumulation.
- Mutants lacking key signaling components disrupted signal transmission and reduced RKN resistance.
- Impaired electrical and ROS signal transmission compromised MPK activation, JA synthesis, and overall plant defense.
Conclusions:
- A systemic signaling loop involving electrical, ROS, and JA signals mediates root-shoot communication for enhanced plant defense.
- This pathway is crucial for activating defense responses in distal organs against RKNs.
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