Roots drive oligogalacturonide-induced systemic immunity in tomato
Jordi Gamir1,2, Zhivko Minchev1, Estefanía Berrio1
1Department of Soil Microbiology and Symbiotic Systems, Estación Experimental del Zaidín (CSIC), Granada, Spain.
Plant, Cell & Environment
|October 18, 2020
Summary
Oligogalacturonides (OGs), plant cell wall fragments, trigger defense responses. Tomato roots play a key role in coordinating these systemic defenses against pathogens, even after foliar application.
Area of Science:
- Plant Biology
- Plant-Microbe Interactions
- Molecular Plant Pathology
Background:
- Oligogalacturonides (OGs) are pectin fragments released during plant stress.
- Plants perceive OGs as damage signals, initiating defense mechanisms.
- Understanding OG-mediated signaling is crucial for crop protection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the dynamics of local and systemic defense responses to OGs in tomato.
- To explore the role of roots and shoots in OG perception and signaling.
- To confirm the relevance of OG-induced defenses in pathogen resistance.
Main Methods:
- Treatment of tomato plants with purified OGs.
- Analysis of local and systemic responses using metabolomics and gene expression.
- Assessment of resistance against Botrytis cinerea infection.
Main Results:
- Local OG responses were transient; distal responses were stronger and sustained.
- Root responses were more pronounced than shoot responses, even with foliar OG application.
- OG perception activated defense hormones and secondary metabolites, notably in roots.
- Induced systemic resistance against Botrytis cinerea was confirmed.
Conclusions:
- Tomato roots are critical in coordinating systemic plant defenses against damage signals.
- Differential regulation of root and shoot defenses occurs upon OG perception.
- OG signaling represents a potential target for enhancing crop resistance to pathogens.
