Reactive Oxygen Species Are Involved in Plant Defense against a Gall Midge

Xuming Liu,Subhashree Subramanyam,Jill A Nemacheck,Cheng Zheng,Haiyan Wang,Ming-Shun Chen,Christie E Williams

doi:10.1104/pp.109.150656

Xuming Liu, Subhashree Subramanyam + Show 5 more

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https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.109.150656

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Journal: Plant Physiology	Publication Date: Dec 4, 2009
Citations: 164	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture

Abstract

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a major role in plant defense against pathogens, but evidence for their role in defense against insects is still preliminary and inconsistent. In this study, we examined the potential role of ROS in defense of wheat (Triticum aestivum) and rice (Oryza sativa) against Hessian fly (Mayetiola destructor) larvae. Rapid and prolonged accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) was detected in wheat plants at the attack site during incompatible interactions. Increased accumulation of both H(2)O(2) and superoxide was detected in rice plants during nonhost interactions with the larvae. No increase in accumulation of either H(2)O(2) or superoxide was observed in wheat plants during compatible interactions. A global analysis revealed changes in the abundances of 250 wheat transcripts and 320 rice transcripts encoding proteins potentially involved in ROS homeostasis. A large number of transcripts encoded class III peroxidases that increased in abundance during both incompatible and nonhost interactions, whereas the levels of these transcripts decreased in susceptible wheat during compatible interactions. The higher levels of class III peroxidase transcripts were associated with elevated enzymatic activity of peroxidases at the attack site in plants during incompatible and nonhost interactions. Overall, our data indicate that class III peroxidases may play a role in ROS generation in resistant wheat and nonhost rice plants during response to Hessian fly attacks.

Highlights

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a major role in plant defense against pathogens, but evidence for their role in defense against insects is still preliminary and inconsistent
The rapid accumulation of plant ROS at the pathogen attack site, a phenomenon called oxidative burst, is toxic to pathogens directly (Lamb and Dixon, 1997) and can lead to a hypersensitive response (HR) that results in a zone of host cell death, which prevents further spread of biotrophic pathogens (Heath, 2000; Gechev et al, 2006)
Levels of apoplastic H2O2 at the larval attack site in plants during compatible, incompatible, and nonhost interactions were investigated via an uptake assay

Summary

Introduction

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a major role in plant defense against pathogens, but evidence for their role in defense against insects is still preliminary and inconsistent. Rapid and prolonged accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was detected in wheat plants at the attack site during incompatible interactions Increased accumulation of both H2O2 and superoxide was detected in rice plants during nonhost interactions with the larvae. Our data indicate that class III peroxidases may play a role in ROS generation in resistant wheat and nonhost rice plants during response to Hessian fly attacks. Superoxide anion (O22), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and hydroxyl radical are the three major forms of ROS These molecules are highly reactive and toxic and can lead to the oxidative destruction of cells (Asada and Takahashi, 1987). The second phase of ROS accumulation, is associated only with infection by avirulent pathogens and is an induced response dependent on the increased transcription of mRNA encoding ROS-generating enzymes. Major ROS-scavenging enzymes include catalase, superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione peroxidase, peroxiredoxin, thioredoxin, glutaredoxin, glutathione reductase, and dehydroascorbate reductase (Mittler et al, 2004)

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