The Laccase Gene Family Mediate Multi-Perspective Trade-Offs during Tea Plant (Camellia sinensis) Development and Defense Processes.

Yongchen Yu,Jin Zhang,Yuxian Xing,Fengjing Liu,Xiaoling Sun,Xiwang Li,Xin Zhang

doi:10.3390/ijms222212554

Abstract

Laccase (LAC) plays important roles in different plant development and defense processes. In this study, we identified laccase genes (CsLACs) in Camellia sinensis cv ‘Longjing43′ cultivars, which were classified into six subclades. The expression patterns of CsLACs displayed significant spatiotemporal variations across different tissues and developmental stages. Most members in subclades II, IV and subclade I exhibited contrasting expression patterns during leaf development, consistent with a trade-off model for preferential expression in the early and late developmental stages. The extensive transcriptional changes of CsLACs under different phytohormone and herbivore treatment were observed and compared, with the expression of most genes in subclades I, II and III being downregulated but genes in subclades IV, V and VI being upregulated, suggesting a growth and defense trade-off model between these subclades. Taken together, our research reveal that CsLACs mediate multi-perspective trade-offs during tea plant development and defense processes and are involved in herbivore resistance in tea plants. More in-depth research of CsLACs upstream regulation and downstream targets mediating herbivore defense should be conducted in the future.

Highlights

IntroductionPlants cannot escape adverse biotic and abiotic stresses that have negative impacts on their growth and development
Activation of defense responses generally comes at the expense of plant growth penalties, which could be in line with a delicate balance between growth and defense, known as the “growth-defense trade-off”
Seven CsLACs in subclade I were clustered in Group I with two AtLACs, while six CsLACs in subclade II were gathered in Group II with four AtLACs

Summary

Introduction

Plants cannot escape adverse biotic and abiotic stresses that have negative impacts on their growth and development. Under these pressures, plants have evolved a sophisticated network of defenses over millions of years [1]. In terms of induced defense, plants perceive and decode damage-associated and/or herbivore-associated molecular patterns (DAMP/HAMP) via receptors and activate early signaling components such as Ca2+ influx, reactive oxygen species, and MAP kinases. Cross-talk between these signaling pathways activates a series of changes at the molecular, biochemical, and physiological levels, which may lead to the enhancement of plant resistance but the reduction of plant growth, development, and productivity [4]. Activation of defense responses generally comes at the expense of plant growth penalties, which could be in line with a delicate balance between growth and defense, known as the “growth-defense trade-off”

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Conclusion