Abstract
Jasmonic acid (JA) is an important plant hormone associated with plant–pathogen defense. To study the role of JA in plant–fungal interactions, we applied a JA biosynthesis inhibitor, sodium diethyldithiocarbamate (DIECA), on wheat leaves. Our results showed that application of 10 mM DIECA 0–2 days before inoculation effectively induced resistance to powdery mildew (Bgt) in wheat. Transcriptome analysis identified 364 up‐regulated and 68 down‐regulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in DIECA‐treated leaves compared with water‐treated leaves. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis of the DEGs revealed important GO terms and pathways, in particular, response to growth hormones, activity of glutathione metabolism (e.g., glutathione transferase activity), oxalate oxidase, and chitinase activity. Gene annotaion revealed that some pathogenesis‐related (PR) genes, such as PR1.1, PR1, PR10, PR4a, Chitinase 8, beta‐1,3‐glucanase, RPM1, RGA2, and HSP70, were induced by DIECA treatment. DIECA reduced JA and auxin (IAA) levels, while increased brassinosteroid, glutathione, and ROS lesions in wheat leaves, which corroborated with the transcriptional changes. Our results suggest that DIECA can be applied to increase plant immunity and reduce the severity of Bgt disease in wheat fields.
Highlights
Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most important food crops worldwide
Our results showed that application of DIECA, the inhibitor of Jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthesis, could induce resistance to Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt) in wheat, while exogenous MeJA did not
Our results showed that JA level was decreased by ~88%, in addition, IAA level was decreased by ~65%, and BR level was increased by ~42.8% in the DIECA-treated leaves as compared with the water-treated leaves (Figure 3c, 3d and 3e)
Summary
Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most important food crops worldwide. Plant hormones act as immune signals, triggering extensive transcriptional reprogramming, and resulting in an efficient defense response (Bari & Jones, 2009). Exogenous application of MeJA up-regulates some defense genes and results in efficient reduction of disease development (Desmond et al, 2005; Thomma et al, 2000; Wasternack, 2007; Xu et al, 1994). Our results showed that application of DIECA, the inhibitor of JA biosynthesis, could induce resistance to Bgt in wheat, while exogenous MeJA did not. In addition to inhibition of JA after DIECA application, the level of IAA was decreased and brassinosteroid (BR) was increased, and accumulation of glutathione and ROS was observed These findings corroborated with wide transcriptional regulation induced by DIECA, for example, the up-expression of PR genes and enriched GO terms such as response to growth hormones, activity of glutathione metabolism, oxalate oxidase, and chitinase activity. Our results suggested that DIECA application can be used to control Bgt in the field
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