Chloroplast clustering around the nucleus is a general response to pathogen perception in Nicotiana benthamiana.

Abstract

SummaryIt is increasingly clear that chloroplasts play a central role in plant stress responses. Upon activation of immune responses, chloroplasts are the source of multiple defensive signals, including reactive oxygen species (ROS). Intriguingly, it has been described that chloroplasts establish physical contact with the nucleus, through clustering around it and extending stromules, following activation of effector‐triggered immunity (ETI). However, how prevalent this phenomenon is in plant–pathogen interactions, how its induction occurs, and what the underlying biological significance is are important questions that remain unanswered. Here, we describe that the chloroplast perinuclear clustering seems to be a general plant response upon perception of an invasion threat. Indeed, activation of pattern‐triggered immunity, ETI, transient expression of the Rep protein from geminiviruses, or infection with viruses or bacteria all are capable of triggering this response in Nicotiana benthamiana. Interestingly, this response seems non‐cell‐autonomous, and exogenous treatment with H2O2 is sufficient to elicit this relocalization of chloroplasts, which appears to require accumulation of ROS. Taken together, our results indicate that chloroplasts cluster around the nucleus during plant–pathogen interactions, suggesting a fundamental role of this positioning in plant defence, and identify ROS as sufficient and possibly required for the onset of this response.