Chrysanthemum CmWRKY53 negatively regulates the resistance of chrysanthemum to the aphid Macrosiphoniella sanborni

Wanwan Zhang,Weimin Fang,Tianwei Gao,Zhiyong Guan,Sumei Chen,Chang Tian,Jiafu Jiang,Fadi Chen,Aiping Song,Peiling Li

doi:10.1038/s41438-020-0334-0

Abstract

Chrysanthemum is frequently attacked by aphids, which greatly hinders the growth and ornamental value of this plant species. WRKY transcription factors play an important role in the response to biotic stresses such as pathogen and insect stresses. Here, chrysanthemum CmWRKY53 was cloned, and its expression was induced by aphid infestation. To verify the role of CmWRKY53 in resistance to aphids, CmWRKY53 transgenic chrysanthemum was generated. CmWRKY53 was found to mediate the susceptibility of chrysanthemum to aphids. The expression levels of secondary metabolite biosynthesis genes, such as peroxidase- and polyphenol oxidase-encoding genes, decreased in CmWRKY53-overexpressing (CmWRKY53-Oe) plants but dramatically increased in chimeric dominant repressor (CmWRKY53-SRDX) plants, suggesting that CmWRKY53 contributes to the susceptibility of chrysanthemum to aphids, possibly due to its role in the regulation of secondary metabolites.

Highlights

Aphids are a major group of crop pests that cause severe damage to plants by consuming nutrients from phloem sap[1]
GFP fluorescence was detected only in the nucleus of pMDC43-GFPCmWRKY53 fusion protein-infiltrated tobacco cells, while GFP fluorescence was evenly distributed throughout the observed tobacco cells that were infiltrated with pMDC43-GFP (Fig. 2)
In conclusion, CmWRKY53 was cloned from chrysanthemum, and its expression was induced by aphid infestation

Summary

Introduction

Aphids are a major group of crop pests that cause severe damage to plants by consuming nutrients from phloem sap[1]. In addition to obtaining nutrients from the phloem, they are vectors for numerous viruses[2]. Aphids have complex life cycles and produce offspring via cyclical parthenogenesis (CP), making it difficult to control aphids in plants[3]. Plants can employ direct or indirect defenses against herbivore attack. With respect to direct defense responses, plants produce different chemical components, such as phenolics, alkaloids and lignin, to deter herbivores or hinder the growth, development and reproduction of insects[4]. Alkaloids and lignin are plant secondary metabolites that confer insect defense to plants[5].

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion