Transcriptome Profiling of the Potato Exposed to French Marigold Essential Oil with a Special Emphasis on Leaf Starch Metabolism and Defense against Colorado Potato Beetle.

Sofija Stupar,Aleksandar Cingel,Ljiljana Tubić,Jovana Stanković-Jeremić,Vuk Maksimović,Branka Vinterhalter,Vele Tešević,Tatjana Ćosić,Jelena Savić,Milan Dragićević,Slavica Ninković,Nina Devrnja

doi:10.3390/plants10010172

Sofija Stupar, Aleksandar Cingel + Show 10 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10010172

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Journal: Plants (Basel, Switzerland)	Publication Date: Jan 18, 2021
Citations: 3	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: University of Belgrade

Abstract

Flower strips of French Marigold are commonly used pest repellents in potato fields. However, the effect of French Marigold volatiles on potato metabolism, physiology and induced defense is unknown. Thus, a microarray transcriptome analysis was performed to study the effects of French Marigold essential oil (EO) on laboratory-grown potato. After 8 h of exposure to EO, with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS)-detected terpinolene and limonene as dominant compounds, 2796 transcripts were differentially expressed with fold change >2 compared to expression in controls. A slightly higher number of transcripts had suppressed expression (1493 down- vs. 1303 up-regulated). Since transcripts, annotated to different photosynthesis-related processes, were mostly down-regulated, we selected a set of 10 genes involved in the leaf starch metabolism pathway, and validated microarray patterns using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Except for decreased synthesis and induced decomposition of starch granule in leaves, 8 h long EO exposure slightly elevated the accumulation of sucrose compared to glucose and fructose in subjected potato plants. An in vitro feeding bioassay with Colorado potato beetle showed that EO-induced alternations on transcriptional level and in the sugars’ metabolism caused the enhancement of feeding behavior and overall development of the tested larvae. Results of comprehensive analysis of transcriptional responses in potato exposed to French Marigold EO provide a basis for further elucidation of molecular mechanisms underlying eco-physiological interactions in companion planting cropping systems.

Highlights

Dispersal of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the air is considered to be “the aboveground language” plants use for communication with other organisms
To confirm the ability of French Marigold essential oil (EO) volatiles to affect transcriptional processes in potato, we examined the gene expression profiles in potato plants exposed to EO for 8 h, using the Agilent custom set up full-genome microarray
In order to investigate whether volatiles from French Marigold affect physiology and prime defense of interspecific plants, we set up the controlled laboratory experiment in which potato plants were exposed to French Marigold EO

Summary

Introduction

Dispersal of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the air is considered to be “the aboveground language” plants use for communication with other organisms. Many VOCs exhibit potent antimicrobial properties contributing to fighting phytopathogenic organisms [6,7]. Being aware of these interactions, farmers have for decades planted aromatic and flowering species rich in EOs next to cultivating crops. This crop protection strategy, named companion planting, is applied in traditional agriculture worldwide and is being commonly adopted in modern organic farming as well [reviewed in [8]]

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