Abstract
A gene encoding a protein similar to ethylene receptor was isolated from maize (Zea mays L.), which was named as ZmERS4.The gene was 1,905 bp in length with an open reading frame that encoded a protein consisting of 634 amino acids. The homologous analysis showed that ZmERS4 shared high similarity with the ethylene receptor protein, OsERS1, from rice (Oryza sativa L.). ZmERS4 grouped into the ETR1 subfamily of ethylene receptors based on its conserved domain and phylogenetic status. Tissue-specific and induced expression analyses indicated that ZmERS4 was differentially expressed in maize tissues, predominantly in the stems and leaves, and was induced by salicylic acid (SA). Overexpression of ZmERS4 in Arabidopsis improved resistance against the bacterial pathogen, PstDC3000, by inducing the expression of SA signaling-related genes. Moreover, treatment with flg22 induced the expression of the defense-related gene, PR1, in maize protoplasts that transiently expressed ZmERS4. Furthermore, the ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) analysis showed that the SA contents in ZmERS4-overexpressing Arabidopsis lines were significantly higher than the control lines. Additionally, the improved resistance of ZmERS4-overexpressing Arabidopsis against PstDC3000 was blocked after pretreatment with the SA biosynthetic inhibitor, ABT. Based on the collective findings, we hypothesize that ZmERS4 plays an important role in disease resistance through SA-mediated signaling pathways.
Highlights
Plants were attacked of various pathogenic microorganisms, including fungi, bacteria, viruses, and nematodes, in their natural environment
The full length of the ZmERS4 (NP_001295562.1) coding sequences (CDS) obtained from the Phytozome database was 1905 bp in length, encoded 634 amino acids, and was located on chromosome 5
According to the protein domain prediction and sequence homology analysis, our results showed that ZmERS4 could encode a protein similar to ethylene receptor, showing the highest sequence similarity with OsERS1 in rice
Summary
Plants were attacked of various pathogenic microorganisms, including fungi, bacteria, viruses, and nematodes, in their natural environment. Major maize diseases, including southern corn leaf blight, brown leaf spot, northern corn leaf blight, Curvularia leaf spot, and rough dwarf, have caused severe yield losses in maize production worldwide (Subash, 2015). To address this problem, improving host resistance against pathogens is the most economical and environmentally friendly approach. According to “gene-to-gene” hypotheses, the R-genes of host plants interact with pathogen virulence effect factors to produce disease resistant phenotypes in the hosts (Sekhwal et al, 2015). Breeding resistance cultivars with broad-spectrum and durable disease resistance is a top priority in maize improvement efforts around the world
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