Endogenous Salicylic Acid Levels Research Articles

Antioxidant Machinery and Glyoxalase System Regulation Confers Salt Stress Tolerance to Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Plants Treated with Melatonin and Salicylic Acid

Plant growth regulators melatonin (MT) and salicylic acid (SA) have potent roles in plant salt tolerance. However, only a few reports have studied the influence of their combined treatment on plant salt tolerance. The current study, as a first investigation, was aimed to evaluate the effect of MT and SA combined treatment on the antioxidant and glyoxalase defense machineries of salt-stressed wheat plants. In the present study, the potential role of 70 μM MT and/or 75 mg l−1 SA on mitigating salt injury (6.0 and 12.0 dS m−1 salinity levels) was investigated in wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Sids 14). Exogenously applied MT and/or SA improved the activity of ascorbate peroxidase, monodehydroascorbate reductase, dehydroascorbate reductase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione S-transferase, which effectively scavenged reactive oxygen species (ROS) in stressed plants. Excessive accumulation of the toxic methylglyoxal was reversed via the up-regulation of the glyoxalase system (glyoxalase I and glyoxalase II) and the ascorbate–glutathione cycle. Foliar applications also reduced membrane damage by lowering lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation due to effective ROS detoxification by antioxidants such as ascorbate, glutathione, phenols, and flavonoids. Moreover, exogenous MT and/or SA applications increased endogenous MT and SA levels under both non-saline and saline conditions. The combined treatment of MT and SA yielded the best results. Overall, this combined treatment regulated the antioxidant machinery and glyoxalase system, suggesting a role for it in salt stress mitigation. Therefore, it can be considered as an effective method for reducing salt toxicity in sustainable agricultural systems.

Overexpression of OsGF14f Enhances Quantitative Leaf Blast and Bacterial Blight Resistance in Rice.

Although it is known that rice 14-3-3 family genes are involved in various defense responses, the functions of OsGF14f in response to diseases have not been reported. Here, we showed that the transcription of OsGF14f was significantly induced by leaf blast infection, and the overexpression of OsGF14f quantitatively enhanced resistance to leaf blast and bacterial blight in rice. Further analysis showed that the expression levels of salicylic acid (SA) pathway-associated genes (PAL1, NH1, PR1a and PR10) in the OsGF14f-overexpressing plants, were higher than those in wild-type plants after inoculation with the blast isolate (Magnaporthe oryzae Barr). In addition, the expression level of OsGF14f was significantly induced after SA treatment, and higher endogenous SA levels were observed in the OsGF14f-overexpressing plants compared with that in wild-type plants, especially after blast challenge. Taken together, these results suggest that OsGF14f positively regulates leaf blast and bacterial blight resistance in rice via the SA-dependent signaling pathway.

Phosphorylation of OsTGA5 by casein kinase II compromises its suppression of defense-related gene transcription in rice.

Plants manage the high cost of immunity activation by suppressing the expression of defense genes during normal growth and rapidly switching them on upon pathogen invasion. TGAs are key transcription factors controlling the expression of defense genes. However, how TGAs function, especially in monocot plants like rice with continuously high levels of endogenous salicylic acid (SA) remains elusive. In this study, we characterized the role of OsTGA5 as a negative regulator of rice resistance against blast fungus by transcriptionally repressing the expression of various defense-related genes. Moreover, OsTGA5 repressed PTI responses and the accumulation of endogenous SA. Importantly, we showed that the nucleus-localized casein kinase II (CK2) complex interacts with and phosphorylates OsTGA5 on Ser-32, which reduces the affinity of OsTGA5 for the JIOsPR10 promoter, thereby alleviating the repression of JIOsPR10 transcription and increasing rice resistance. Furthermore, the in vivo phosphorylation of OsTGA5 Ser-32 was enhanced by blast fungus infection. The CK2 α subunit, depending on its kinase activity, positively regulated rice defense against blast fungus. Taken together, our results provide a mechanism for the role of OsTGA5 in negatively regulating the transcription of defense-related genes in rice and the repressive switch imposed by nuclear CK2-mediated phosphorylation during blast fungus invasion.

The salicylic acid mediates selenium-induced tolerance to drought stress in tomato plants

The role of selenium (Se) in mitigating detrimental effects of drought stress on the plants has been reported, but the mechanism is still unclear. In this study, the function of Se fertilization on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) under drought stress was characterized. Our results showed that the growth reduction caused by drought stress was alleviated by application of exogenous Se to a large extent. In addition, the treatment of Se significantly increased the net photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpirational rate (Tr), stomatal conductance (Gs) and water use efficiency (WUE) than in the absence of Se under drought stress treatment. Se addition also significantly inhibited the increase of malondialdehyde (MDA), soluble sugar and proline levels of tomato leaves and produced less reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation under drought stress. Furthermore, Se supplementation to the nutrient solution significantly increased the endogenous salicylic acid (SA) and methylated SA (MeSA) levels in tomato roots and promoted the conversion from SA to MeSA in tomato leaves under drought stress conditions via regulating the expression levels of several genes involved in SA biosynthesis and conversion such as PAL1, ICS, SAMT and SABP2. But the pretreatment with ABT (1-aminobenzotriazole, a SA inhibitor) abolished the beneficial effect of Se on drought stress tolerance of plants. These results suggested that Se application promoted photosynthetic efficiency and plant growth, alleviated drought-induced oxidative stress, and increased the endogenous SA levels, thereby imparting drought stress tolerance of tomato plants. This study may provide a theoretical basis for utilization of Se fertilizer to improve the yield and quality of agricultural products under stress.

Application of UV-B radiation for enhancing the accumulation of bioactive phenolic compounds in pigeon pea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] hairy root cultures.

UV-B radiation is an ideal elicitation strategy for promoting phytochemical accumulation in plant in vitro cultures, associated with various advantages of easy manipulation, cost-effectiveness, no residue, and instantaneous termination. For the first time, UV-B radiation was used to enhance the production of bioactive phenolic compounds (flavonoids and stilbenes) in pigeon pea hairy root cultures (PPHRCs). The total yield of eight flavonoids (414.95±50.68μg/g DW) in 42-day-old PPHRCs exposed to 4h of UV-B radiation increased by 1.49-fold as against control, whereas the yield of cajaninstilbene acid (6566.01±702.14μg/g DW) in PPHRCs undergoing 10h of UV-B radiation significantly increased by 2.31-fold over control. UV-B radiation was found to induce the oxidative stress in PPHRCs and cause the tissue damage to hairy roots, which improved the levels of endogenous salicylic acid thus triggering the expression of genes involved in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway. And, a regulation competition in metabolic flow dominated by CHS and STS was responsible for the difference in accumulation trends of flavonoids and cajaninstilbene acid. Results of this study not only provide a feasible and simple UV-B supplementation strategy for the enhanced production of bioactive phenolic compounds (especially the high-value cajaninstilbene acid) in PPHRCs, but also contributed to the understanding of photobiological responses related to secondary metabolism.

Salicylic-Acid-Regulated Antioxidant Capacity Contributes to Growth Improvement of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus cv. Red Balady)

The improvement of crop yield and quality are currently of prime concern to achieve global food security and sustainability. Plant elicitation with salicylic acid (SA) has been shown to play a key role in regulating plant growth and productivity. Here, the effects of foliar SA application (1, 2, and 4 mM) on antioxidant capacity and phenolic metabolism, among other biochemical parameters, were studied in okra leaves. The results showed that SA treatments markedly increase the levels of endogenous free SA and trigger the accumulation of chlorophylls, soluble proteins, proline, antioxidant capacity, and phenolic compounds, alongside the stimulation of the enzymatic activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and peroxidase, with these changes being paralleled by decreased levels of lipid peroxidation. The beneficial effects of SA treatments were also tested on field-grown okra plants. Results revealed that yield-associated agronomic attributes significantly increased upon SA treatments, especially at 2 mM SA. Altogether, these results point to a connection between SA-induced antioxidant system strengthening and crop growth and productivity. Therefore, foliar application of SA seems to be a potent and workable approach to enhance okra crop quality and yield.

Tomato and cotton G protein beta subunit mutants display constitutive autoimmune responses.

Heterotrimeric G protein Gβ‐deficient mutants in rice and maize display constitutive immune responses, whereas Arabidopsis Gβ mutants show impaired defense, suggesting the existence of functional differences between monocots and dicots. Using CRISPR/Cas9, we produced one hemizygous tomato line with a mutated SlGB1 Gβ gene. Homozygous slgb1 knockout mutants exhibit all the hallmarks of autoimmune mutants, including development of necrotic lesions, constitutive expression of defense‐related genes, and high endogenous levels of salicylic acid (SA) and reactive oxygen species, resulting in early seedling lethality. Virus‐induced silencing of Gβ in cotton reproduced the symptoms observed in tomato mutants, confirming that the autoimmune phenotype is not limited to monocot species but is also shared by dicots. Even though multiple genes involved in SA and ethylene signaling are highly induced by Gβ silencing in tomato and cotton, co‐silencing of SA or ethylene signaling components in cotton failed to suppress the lethal phenotype, whereas co‐silencing of the oxidative burst oxidase RbohD can repress lethality. Despite the autoimmune response observed in slgb1 mutants, we show that SlGB1 is a positive regulator of the pathogen‐associated molecular pattern (PAMP)‐triggered immunity (PTI) response in tomato. We speculate that the phenotypic differences observed between Arabidopsis and tomato/cotton/rice/maize Gβ knockouts do not necessarily reflect divergences in G protein‐mediated defense mechanisms.

Disclosure of salicylic acid and jasmonic acid-responsive genes provides a molecular tool for deciphering stress responses in soybean

Hormones orchestrate the physiology of organisms. Measuring the activity of defense hormone-responsive genes can help understanding immune signaling and facilitate breeding for plant health. However, different from model species like Arabidopsis, genes that respond to defense hormones salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) have not been disclosed in the soybean crop. We performed global transcriptome analyses to fill this knowledge gap. Upon exogenous application, endogenous levels of SA and JA increased in leaves. SA predominantly activated genes linked to systemic acquired resistance and defense signaling whereas JA mainly activated wound response-associated genes. In general, SA-responsive genes were activated earlier than those responding to JA. Consistent with the paradigm of biotrophic pathogens predominantly activating SA responses, free SA and here identified most robust SA marker genes GmNIMIN1, GmNIMIN1.2 and GmWRK40 were induced upon inoculation with Phakopsora pachyrhizi, whereas JA marker genes did not respond to infection with the biotrophic fungus. Spodoptera exigua larvae caused a strong accumulation of JA-Ile and JA-specific mRNA transcripts of GmBPI1, GmKTI1 and GmAAT whereas neither free SA nor SA-marker gene transcripts accumulated upon insect feeding. Our study provides molecular tools for monitoring the dynamic accumulation of SA and JA, e.g. in a given stress condition.

SA-Mediated Regulation and Control of Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Rice

Environmental or abiotic stresses are a common threat that remains a constant and common challenge to all plants. These threats whether singular or in combination can have devastating effects on plants. As a semiaquatic plant, rice succumbs to the same threats. Here we systematically look into the involvement of salicylic acid (SA) in the regulation of abiotic stress in rice. Studies have shown that the level of endogenous salicylic acid (SA) is high in rice compared to any other plant species. The reason behind this elevated level and the contribution of this molecule towards abiotic stress management and other underlying mechanisms remains poorly understood in rice. In this review we will address various abiotic stresses that affect the biochemistry and physiology of rice and the role played by SA in its regulation. Further, this review will elucidate the potential mechanisms that control SA-mediated stress tolerance in rice, leading to future prospects and direction for investigation.

Transcription factor WRKY14 mediates resistance of tea plants (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze) to blister blight

Blister blight, caused by Exobasidium vexans Massee, is a serious tea disease and leads to massive damage to tea yield and quality. WRKY transcription factors play an important role in the regulation of biotic stresses. However, the biological and molecular functions of these transcription factors during blister blight in tea plants are not known. The present study isolated a disease resistance gene, CsWRKY14, from leaves of Camellia sinensis and analysed this gene using bioinformatics. The results demonstrated that CsWRKY14 comprised multiple cis-acting elements and involved in salicylic acid (SA) signal transduction pathway. Moreover, the CsWRKY14 protein belongs to the IIe subgroup of the WRKY family located in the nucleus. The expression of CsWRKY14 was more upregulated in the resistant cultivar ‘Zhongcha 108’ (ZC) compared to the susceptible cultivar ‘Longjing changye’ (LJ). Consistently, the endogenous levels of SA and the expression of SA signaling pathway-related genes (NPR1, PR1, PR2, and PR4) were higher in ZC than in LJ, which suggests that CsWRKY14 contributes to the increase of SA concentration and activates the expression level of SA-induced pathogen-associated genes. Histochemical analysis and enzymatic activity assay revealed that the resistant cultivar ZC exhibited less H2O2 accumulation and higher activities of antioxidant enzymes. CsWRKY14-silenced plants were more sensitive to E. vexans than wild plants and exhibited a decrease in the expression of SA pathway-related genes and the antioxidant enzyme activities. Our results suggest CsWRKY14 can be used as an effective genetic resource for tea breeding against blister blight.

Defense-related hormone signaling coordinately controls the role of melatonin during Arabidopsis thaliana-Pseudomonas syringae interaction

Increasing evidence suggest that melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine), an indolic compound identified from the pineal gland of mammals, regulates plant disease resistance. Here, we show that melatonin promoted susceptibility of salicylic acid (SA)-deficient Arabidopsis plants to the virulent bacterium Pseudomonas syringae, but enhanced resistance of jasmonic acid (JA)-insensitive mutants, ethylene (ET)-insensitive mutants, and abscisic acid (ABA)-biosynthetic mutants. However, melatonin had no effects on wild type Arabidopsis plants defending against P. syringae. In wild type Arabidopsis leaves, melatonin enabled to elevate endogenous SA and ABA levels and reduced JA and JA-isoleucine accumulation. In addition, melatonin induced the transcripts of SA-dependent pathogenesis-related protein 1 and JA/ET-dependent plant defensin 1.2. Furthermore, melatonin could affect neither pathogen-associated molecular pattern-triggered immunity nor avirulent effector-triggered immunity. Since ABA and JA/ET signaling antagonize SA-dependent disease resistance, our results thus clarify that defense-related hormone signaling, but not basal immune events, cooperatively determine the destiny of melatonin during Arabidopsis thaliana-P. syringae interaction.

Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of the MLO gene family reveal a candidate gene associated with powdery mildew susceptibility in bitter gourd (Momordica charantia)

Powdery mildew (PM), caused by Podosphaera xanthii, is one of the most serious disease in bitter gourd (Momordica charantia). Specific members of the Mildew Locus O (MLO) gene family act as susceptibility factors by recognizing PM pathogens and the corresponding loss-of-function mutations confer broad-spectrum durable host resistance. However, the potential PM-susceptibility genes in bitter gourd have not been identified yet. Therefore, genome-wide characterization and expression analysis of the bitter gourd MLO gene family were carried out in the present study. The results suggested that 15 MLO homologs were present in the bitter gourd genome. Gene organization, cis-elements, conserved amino acid residues and motifs were also investigated and analyzed. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that these identified MLO proteins clustered in six well-defined clades. It was noteworthy that McMLO7b, a bitter gourd MLO homolog falling in clade V which clustered all the known PM susceptibility factors of dicots, was up-regulated more than 6-fold at an early infection stage (6 h) and was inferred to be a candidate gene of PM susceptibility factor. In addition, exogenous salicylic acid (SA) treatment enhanced the PM resistance of bitter gourd, accompanied by a significantly elevated level of endogenous SA. However, McMLO7b showed nearly equivalent expression in SA-treated plants compared to the mock-treated seedlings at the early PM infection stage. MLO proteins were directly targeted by PM to trigger pathogenesis, therefore, a weak effect of exogenous SA on interaction between bitter gourd and PM could be inferred. To conclude, the results will be helpful in proposing better strategies to control PM disease with either resistant cultivars or cultivation management.

Involvement of salicylic acid in cold priming-induced freezing tolerance in wheat plants

Freezing is one of the most damaging abiotic stress factors. Cold priming has been shown to enhance freezing tolerance in wheat. However, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Salicylic acid (SA) is an important signal molecule involved in plant responses to abiotic and biotic stresses. This study aims to investigate the role of SA in cold priming-induced freezing tolerance in wheat plants. The results showed that the expression of gene encoding phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL, a key enzyme involved in SA biosynthesis) and the level of endogenous SA (both free and conjugated) were significantly up-regulated following cold priming treatment. The role of SA in cold priming-induced freezing tolerance was further explored using the donor and inhibitor of endogenous SA. l-α-aminooxy-β-phenylpropionic acid (AOPP, a specific inhibitor of PAL) pretreatment reversed the increment of SA level induced by cold priming treatment, attenuated the positive effects of cold priming on antioxidant capacity (as indicated by the contents of MDA, ASA and GSH, and the activities of APX, GR, DHAR and MDHAR) and cold-responsive genes expression (such as AOX1a, IRI2 and HSP70) under the later freezing stress as well as the freezing tolerance (as indicated by the photochemical activity, electrolyte leakage and biomass). The application of exogenous SA could obviously counteract the negative effects of AOPP. Findings of the present study suggested that the roles of SA in cold priming-induced freezing tolerance in wheat might involve regulation of antioxidant capacity and cold-responsive gene expression.

Effect of exogenous salicylic acid or indole acetic acid on their endogenous levels, germination, and growth in maize

BackgroundExogenous hormone applications modify the plant growth and development by inducing changes in their endogenous contents. However, it is not clear whether the effects of exogenous hormones on growth are direct or related with changes induced in endogenous hormones. Laboratory and greenhouse experiments were conducted to study the effect of exogenous salicylic acid (SA) or indole acetic acid (IAA) on endogenous levels in soaked seeds, 5-day-old seedlings, and in vegetative growth of foliar-sprayed plants. The effects of different concentrations of two hormones on germination and growth of maize were also studied.ResultsThe effect of presoaking maize seeds in solutions of SA or IAA (0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, and 2 mM) on their endogenous contents in soaked seeds or in 5-day-old seedlings. Soaked seeds absorbed more SA than IAA. In young seedlings, the majority of two hormones which absorbed during seed soaking remained in the residual seeds. Presoaking seeds in SA or IAA solutions suppressed the growth of 5-day-old seedlings. In the greenhouse experiment, endogenous SA and IAA increased after spraying two compounds at 0.25–2 mM, peaking 2 days after treatment then decreased on. However, plants treated with SA at 1 mM or 2 mM continued to pose higher levels of endogenous SA, 8 days later. At 20 days after treatments, all tested concentrations of two hormones significantly increased the fresh and dry weights of the whole plant. These inducing effects disappeared 40 days after spraying.ConclusionThe obtained results demonstrated the changes in endogenous SA and IAA in soaked seeds, seedling, and foliar-sprayed plants due to their exogenous application. However, concentrations of two hormones did not produce any permanent enhancement effects on germination and plant growth.

Hydrogen sulfide acted as a downstream signal was involved in the regulation of salicylic acid on photosynthesis of cucumber seedlings under low temperature and low light intensity

Both salicylic acid (SA) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) play an important role in regulating plant growth and development and physiological metabolism under abiotic stresses. As signal molecules, the interaction between them in regulating cucumber photosynthesis under low temperature and low light is still unclear. Here, we examined the regulation and interaction of SA and H2S on photosynthesis in cucumber seedlings under low temperature (8 ℃/5 ℃, day/night) and low light (100 μmol·m-2·s-1). Seedlings were foliar-sprayed with SA, sodium sulfide (NaHS, H2S donor), and their scavenger or biosynthesis inhibitors, respectively. Seedlings treated with deionized water at suitable temperature and light condition were used as the control. The results showed that SA increased the L-/D-cysteine desulfhydrase (LCD, DCD) activities and relative mRNA expression, and consequently promoted the endogenous H2S production. However, NaHS did not affect the activities and gene expressions of phenylalnine ammonialyase and isochorismate and endogenous SA level. Compared with the H2O-treated seedlings under low temperature and low light, SA- and NaHS-treated seedlings showed an increase in the photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate, while a decrease in intercellular CO2 concentration. SA and NaHS increased the CO2 assimilation, which mainly attributed to the increases in the activities of the ribulose-1, 5-bisphosphate carboxylase, rubisco activase, sedoheptulose-1, 7-bisphosphatase and fructose-1, 6-bisphosphatase, as well as their mRNA expression. Meanwhile, SA and NaHS improved the actual photochemical efficiency and maximal photochemical efficiency of PSII, and therefore alleviated the damage in photosynthetic apparatus and negative effect on growth from low temperature and low light stress. The SA-induced higher photosynthesis and growth in stressed seedlings were suppressed by addition of H2S scavenger hypotaurine. However, the H2S-induced tolerance of photosynthetic apparatus to low temperature and low light was not affected by SA biosynthesis inhibitor paclobutrazol and 2-aminoindan-2-phosphonic acid. Our results suggested that H2S, as a downstream signal of SA, was involved in regulating photosynthesis in cucumber seedlings under low temperature and low light.

The arbuscular mycorrhizal mycelium from barley differentially influences various defense parameters in the non-host sugar beet under co-cultivation.

The interactions between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and non-host species are poorly studied. Particularly scarce is information on members of the Amaranthaceae/Chenopodiaceae family. Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) plants were co-cultivated with a host species (Hordeum vulgare) in the presence (+AMF) or absence of Rhizophagus intraradices to explore the hypothesis that the presence of an active, pre-established AMF mycelium induces defense responses in the non-host species. Biomass of sugar beet did not respond to the +AMF treatment, while its root exudation of organic acids and phenolic acids was drastically decreased upon co-cultivation with +AMF barley. The most conspicuous effect was observed on a wide range of potential defense parameters being differentially influenced by the +AMF treatment in this non-host species. Antioxidant defense enzymes were activated and the level of endogenous jasmonic acid was elevated accompanied by nitric oxide accumulation and lignin deposition in the roots after long-term +AMF treatment. In contrast, significant reductions in the levels of endogenous salicylic acid and tissue concentration and exudation of phenolic acids indicated that AM fungus hyphae in the substrate did not induce a hypersensitive-type response in the sugar beet roots and downregulated certain chemical defenses. Our results imply that the fitness of this non-host species is not reduced when grown in the presence of an AMF mycelium because of balanced defense costs. Further studies should address the question of whether or not such modulation of defense pattern influences the pest resistance of sugar beet plants under field conditions.

Hydrogen sulfide is required for salicylic acid-induced chilling tolerance of cucumber seedlings.

Salicylic acid (SA) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) have been proved to be multifunctional signal molecules to participate in the response of plants to abiotic stresses. However, it is still unclear whether there is interaction between SA and H2S in response to chilling intensity of cucumber seedlings. Here, we found SA was sensitive to chilling intensity. Under normal condition, NaHS (H2S donor) or removing endogenous H2S with hypotaurine (HT, a specific scavenger of H2S) and DL-propargylglycine (PAG, a specific inhibitor of H2S) has no effect on endogenous SA level; however, SA induced endogenous H2S content and activated the activities and mRNA level of L-/D-cysteine desulfhydrase (L-/D-CD), and inhibiting endogenous SA with paclobutrazol (PAC) or 2-aminoindan-2-phosphonic acid (AIP) blocked this effect, implying H2S may play a role after SA signal. Further studies showed that both SA and NaHS notably alleviated chilling injury, which was evidenced by lower electrolyte leakage (EL), MDA content, and ROS accumulation, compared with H2O treatment. Of note, SA and H2S improved the activities and mRNA level of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD, CAT, APX, and GR) as well as the contents of AsA and GSH. Additionally, the chilling-response genes (ICE, CBF1, and COR) were obviously upregulated by exogenous SA and NaHS. However, the positive effect of SA on chilling tolerance was inhibited by HT, whereas PAC or AIP did not affect NaHS-induced chilling tolerance. Taken together, the data reveals that H2S acts as a downstream signal of SA-induced chilling tolerance of cucumber via modulating antioxidant system and chilling-response genes.

Exogenous application and endogenous elevation of salicylic acid levels by overexpressing a salicylic acid-binding protein 2 gene enhance nZnO tolerance of tobacco plants

Salicylic acid (SA) plays vital roles in the stress response of plants. However, the relationship between SA signaling and plant tolerance to nZnO stress has not been reported. The effects of different sizes and concentrations of nZnO on tobacco plants grown in MS medium or soil were evaluated. The effects of exogenous and endogenous SA on the morphological and biochemical parameters of tobacco plants by exogenous application of SA and overexpression of LcSABP2 gene were also investigated in this study. The endogenous SA content and the expression of salicylic acid-binding protein 2 (SABP2) gene increased in tobacco individuals with nZnO treatment. Exogenously applied SA increased the germination rate of tobacco seeds, and enhanced the root length and chlorophyll content of tobacco seedlings. Overexpression of LcSABP2 gene in transgenic tobacco significantly increased SA content in plants with nZnO treatment. Compared to the wild type plants, transgenic tobacco with nZnO treatment showed higher chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate, related gene expression, activities of SOD, POD and CAT, and less contents of H2O2, O2− and MDA, which suggested that LcSABP2 might play important regulatory roles in plant resistance to nZnO toxicity by elevating the level of endogenous SA, promoting the action of photosynthetic system, and enhancing the activities of antioxidant enzymes. This study illustrated that exogenous and endogenous SA might all be involved in alleviating the toxicity of nZnO on plants.

OsNPR3.3-dependent salicylic acid signaling is involved in recessive gene xa5-mediated immunity to rice bacterial blight

Salicylic acid (SA) is a key natural component that mediates local and systemic resistance to pathogens in many dicotyledonous species. However, its function is controversial in disease resistance in rice plants. Here, we show that the SA signaling is involved in both pathogen-associated-molecular-patterns triggered immunity (PTI) and effector triggered immunity (ETI) to Xanthomonas oryzae pv. Oryzae (Xoo) mediated by the recessive gene xa5, in which OsNPR3.3 plays an important role through interacting with TGAL11. Rice plants containing homozygous xa5 gene respond positively to exogenous SA, and their endogenous SA levels are also especially induced upon infection by the Xoo strain, PXO86. Depletion of endogenous SA can significantly attenuate plant resistance to PXO86, even to 86∆HrpXG (mutant PXO86 with a damaged type III secretion system). These results indicated that SA plays an important role in disease resistance in rice plants, which can be clouded by high levels of endogenous SA and the use of particular rice varieties.

MKK4/MKK5-MPK1/MPK2 cascade mediates SA-activated leaf senescence via phosphorylation of NPR1 in Arabidopsis.

The mechanism by which endogenous salicylic acid (SA) regulates leaf senescence remains elusive. Here we provide direct evidence that an enhancement of endogenous SA level, via chemical-induced upregulation of ISOCHORISMATE SYNTHASE 1 (ICS1), could significantly accelerate the senescence process of old leaves through mediation of the key SA signaling component NON EXPRESSOR OF PATHOGENESIS RELATED GENES 1 (NPR1) in Arabidopsis. Importantly, by taking advantage of this chemically induced leaf senescence system, we identified a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade MKK4/5-MPK1/2 that is required for the SA/NPR1-mediated leaf senescence. Both MKK4/5 and MPK1/2 exhibited SA-induced kinase activities, with MPK1/2 being the immediate targets of MKK4/5. Double mutants of mkk4 mkk5 and mpk1 mpk2 displayed delayed leaf senescence, while constitutive overexpression of the kinase genes led to premature leaf senescence. Such premature leaf senescence was suppressed when they were overexpressed in an SA synthesis defective mutant (sid2) or signaling detective mutant (npr1). We further showed that MPK1, but not MPK2, could directly phosphorylate NPR1. Meanwhile, MPK1 also mediated NPR1 monomerization. Notably, induction of disease resistance was significantly compromised in the single and double mutants of the kinase genes. Taken together, our data demonstrate that the MKK4/5-MPK1/2 cascade plays a critical role in modulating SA signaling through a complex regulatory network in Arabidopsis.