jasmonic-acid and Dehydration

Collective evidence from agricultural practices and from scientific research has demonstrated that plants can alter their phenotypic responses to repeated biotic and abiotic stresses or their elicitors. A coordinated reaction at the organismal, cellular, and genome levels has suggested that plants can "remember" an earlier stress and modify their future responses, accordingly. Stress memory may increase a plant's survival chances by improving its tolerance/avoidance abilities and may provide a mechanism for acclimation and adaptation. Understanding the mechanisms that regulate plant stress memory is not only an intellectually challenging topic but has important implications for agricultural practices as well. Here, I focus exclusively on specific aspects of the transcription memory in response to recurring dehydration stresses and the memory-type responses to insect damage in a process known as "priming." The questions discussed are (a) whether/how the two memory phenomena are connected at the level of transcriptional regulation; (b) how differential transcription is achieved mechanistically under a repeated stress; and (c) whether similar molecular and/or epigenetic mechanisms are involved. Possible biological relevance of transcriptional stress memory and its preservation in plant evolution are also discussed.

Topics: Abscisic Acid; Adaptation, Physiological; Cyclopentanes; Dehydration; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Oxylipins; Plant Physiological Phenomena; Signal Transduction

Tomato plant acclimation to a mild water stress implied tissue-specific hormonal and nutrient adjustments, being the root one of the main modulators of this response. Phytohormones are key regulators of plant acclimation to water stress. However, it is not yet clear if these hormonal responses follow specific patterns depending on the plant tissue. In this study, we evaluated the organ-specific physiological and hormonal responses to a 14 day-long mild water stress in tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum cv. Moneymaker) in the presence or absence of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizoglomus irregulare, a frequently used microorganism in agriculture. Several physiological, production, and nutritional parameters were evaluated throughout the experiments. Additionally, endogenous hormone levels in roots, leaves, and fruits at different developmental stages were quantified by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). Water deficit drastically reduced shoot growth, while it did not affect fruit production. In contrast, fruit production was enhanced by mycorrhization regardless of the water treatment. The main tissue affected by water stress was the root system, where huge rearrangements in different nutrients and stress-related and growth hormones took place. Abscisic acid content increased in every tissue and fruit developmental stage, suggesting a systemic response to drought. On the other hand, jasmonate and cytokinin levels were generally reduced upon water stress, although this response was dependent on the tissue and the hormonal form. Finally, mycorrhization improved plant nutritional status content of certain macro and microelements, specially at the roots and ripe fruits, while it affected jasmonate response in the roots. Altogether, our results suggest a complex response to drought that consists in systemic and local combined hormonal and nutrient responses.

Topics: Acclimatization; Dehydration; Mycorrhizae; Plant Roots; Solanum lycopersicum; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

MicroRNAs regulate plant development and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses but their impact on water use efficiency (WUE) is poorly known. Increasing WUE is a major task in crop improvement programs aimed to meet the challenges posed by the reduction in water availability associated with the ongoing climatic change. We have examined the physiological and molecular response to water stress of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) plants downregulated for miR396 by target mimicry. In water stress conditions, miR396-downregulated plants displayed reduced transpiration and a less then proportional decrease in the photosynthetic rate that resulted in higher WUE. The increase in WUE was associated with faster foliar accumulation of abscisic acid (ABA), with the induction of several drought-protective genes and with the activation of the jasmonic acid (JA) and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) pathways. We propose a model in which the downregulation of miR396 leads to the activation of a complex molecular response to water stress. This response acts synergistically with a set of leaf morphological modifications to increase stomatal closure and preserve the efficiency of the photosynthetic activity, ultimately resulting in higher WUE.

Topics: Cyclopentanes; Dehydration; Down-Regulation; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; MicroRNAs; Oxylipins; Plant Growth Regulators; Plant Transpiration; RNA, Plant; Signal Transduction; Solanum lycopersicum; Water

Belowground (BG) herbivory can influence aboveground (AG) herbivore performance and food preference via changes in plant chemistry. Most evidence for this phenomenon derives from studies in herbaceous plants but studies in woody plants are scarce. Here we investigated whether and how BG herbivory on black poplar (Populus nigra) trees by Melolontha melolontha larvae influences the feeding preference of Lymantria dispar (gypsy moth) caterpillars. In a food choice assay, caterpillars preferred to feed on leaves from trees that had experienced attack by BG herbivores. Therefore, we investigated the effect of BG herbivory on the phytochemical composition of P. nigra trees alone and in combination with AG feeding by L. dispar caterpillars. BG herbivory did not increase systemic AG tree defences like volatile organic compounds, protease inhibitors and salicinoids. Jasmonates and salicylic acid were also not induced by BG herbivory in leaves but abscisic acid concentrations drastically increased together with proline and few other amino acids. Leaf coating experiments with amino acids suggest that proline might be responsible for the caterpillar feeding preference via presumptive phagostimulatory properties. This study shows that BG herbivory in poplar can modify the feeding preference of AG herbivores via phytochemical changes as a consequence of root-to-shoot signaling.

Topics: Abscisic Acid; Amino Acids; Animals; Coleoptera; Cyclopentanes; Dehydration; Herbivory; Larva; Oxylipins; Phytochemicals; Plant Growth Regulators; Plant Leaves; Populus; Protease Inhibitors; Salicylic Acid; Solubility; Sugars; Trees; Volatile Organic Compounds

Breeding for drought-tolerant crops is a pressing issue due to the increasing frequency and duration of droughts caused by climate change. Although important sources of variation for drought tolerance exist in wild relatives, the mechanisms and the key genes controlling tolerance in tomato are little known. The aim of this study is to determine the drought response of the tomato wild relative Solanum pennellii (Sp) compared with the cultivated tomato Solanum lycopersicum (Sl). The paper investigates the physiological and molecular responses in leaves of Sp and Sl plants without stress and moderate drought stress. Significant physiological differences between species were found, with Sp leaves showing greater ability to avoid water loss and oxidative damage. Leaf transcriptomic analysis carried out when leaves did not as yet show visual dehydration symptoms revealed important constitutive expression differences between Sp and Sl species. Genes linked to different physiological and metabolic processes were induced by drought in Sp, especially those involved in N assimilation, GOGAT/GS cycle and GABA-shunt. Up-regulation in Sp of genes linked to JA/ET biosynthesis and signaling pathways was also observed. In sum, genes involved in the amino acid metabolism together with genes linked to ET/JA seem to be key actors in the drought tolerance of the wild tomato species.

Topics: Amino Acids; Crops, Agricultural; Cyclopentanes; Dehydration; Droughts; Ethylenes; Gene Expression Profiling; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Oxylipins; Plant Leaves; Plant Proteins; Solanum; Solanum lycopersicum; Stress, Physiological; Water

Some polyploid species show enhanced physiological tolerance to drought compared with their progenitors. However, very few studies have examined the consistency of physiological drought response between genetically differentiated natural polyploid populations, which is key to evaluation of the importance of adaptive evolution after polyploidization in those systems where drought exerts a selective pressure.. A comparative functional approach was used to investigate differentiation of drought-tolerance-related traits in the Brachypodium species complex, a model system for grass polyploid adaptive speciation and functional genomics that comprises three closely related annual species: the two diploid parents, B. distachyon and B. stacei, and the allotetraploid derived from them, B. hybridum. Differentiation of drought-tolerance-related traits between ten genetically distinct B. hybridum populations and its ecological correlates was further analysed.. The functional drought response is overall well differentiated between Brachypodium species. Brachypodium hybridum allotetraploids showed a transgressive expression pattern in leaf phytohormone content in response to drought. In contrast, other B. hybridum physiological traits correlated to B. stacei ones. Particularly, proline and water content were the traits that best discriminated these species from B. distachyon under drought.. After polyploid formation and/or colonization, B. hybridum populations have adaptively diverged physiologically and genetically in response to variations in aridity.

Topics: Abscisic Acid; Adaptation, Physiological; Brachypodium; Cyclopentanes; Dehydration; Indoleacetic Acids; Oxylipins; Plant Growth Regulators; Polyploidy

Experiencing diverse and recurring biotic and abiotic stresses throughout life, plants have evolved mechanisms to respond, survive and, eventually, adapt to changing habitats. The initial response to drought involves a large number of genes that are involved also in response to other stresses. According to current models, this initial response is non-specific, becoming stress-specific only at later time points. The question, then, is whether non-specific activation of various stress-signalling systems leading to the expression of numerous stress-regulated genes is a false-alarm (panicky) response or whether it has biologically relevant consequences for the plant. Here, it is argued that the initial activation of genes associated other stresses reflects an important event during which stress-specific mechanisms are generated to prevent subsequent activation of non-drought signalling pathways. How plants discriminate between a first and a repeated dehydration stress and how repression of non-drought specific genes is achieved will be discussed on the example of jasmonic acid-associated Arabidopsis genes activated by a first, but not subsequent, dehydration stresses. Revealing how expression of various biotic/abiotic stress responding genes is prevented under recurring drought spells may be critical for our understanding of how plants respond to dynamically changing environments.

Topics: Abscisic Acid; Arabidopsis; Biological Evolution; Cyclopentanes; Dehydration; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Models, Biological; Oxylipins; RNA, Messenger; Signal Transduction; Stress, Physiological; Transcription, Genetic

Topics: Abscisic Acid; Arabidopsis; Arabidopsis Proteins; Cyclopentanes; Dehydration; Dioxygenases; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Oxylipins; Plant Growth Regulators; Plant Proteins; Signal Transduction; Transcription Factors

Senescence can be delayed in transgenic plants overexpressing the enzyme isopentenyltransferase (IPT) due to stress-induced increased levels of endogenous cytokinins. This trait leads to sustained photosynthetic activity and improved tolerance to abiotic stress. The aim of this study was to generate and characterize transgenic plants of maize (Zea mays L.) transformed with the IPT gene sequence under the regulation of SARK promoter (protein kinase receptor-associated senescence). Three independent transgenic events and their segregating null controls were evaluated in two watering regimes (WW: well watered; WD: water deficit) imposed for two weeks around anthesis. Our results show that the WD treatment induced IPT expression with the concomitant increase in cytokinin levels, which prolonged the persistence of total green leaf area, and maintained normal photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance. These trends were accompanied by a minor decrease in number of grains per plant, individual grain weight and plant grain yield as compared to WW plants. Plants expressing the IPT gene under WD had PGR, anthesis and silking dates and biomass levels similar to WW plants. Our results demonstrate that expression of the IPT gene under the regulation of the SARK promoter helps improve productivity under WD conditions in C4 plants like maize.

Topics: Abscisic Acid; Alkyl and Aryl Transferases; Biomass; Blotting, Southern; Chlorophyll; Cyclopentanes; Cytokinins; Dehydration; Edible Grain; Oxylipins; Photosynthesis; Plant Proteins; Plant Stomata; Plants, Genetically Modified; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Soil; Stress, Physiological; Water; Zea mays

The presence and relative concentration of phytohormones may be regarded as a good indicator of an organism's physiological state. The integration of the rolC gene from Agrobacterium rhizogenes and of the rat glucocorticoid receptor (gr) in Nicotiana langsdorffii Weinmann plants has shown to determine various physiological and metabolic effects. The analysis of wild and transgenic N. langsdorffii plants, exposed to different abiotic stresses (high temperature, water deficit, and high chromium concentrations) was conducted, in order to investigate the metabolic effects of the inserted genes in response to the applied stresses. The development of a new analytical procedure was necessary, in order to assure the simultaneous determination of analytes and to obtain an adequately low limit of quantification. For the first time, a sensitive HPLC-HRMS quantitative method for the simultaneous determination of salicylic acid, jasmonic acid and shikimic acid was developed and validated. The method was applied to 80 plant samples, permitting the evaluation of plant stress responses and highlighting some metabolic mechanisms. Salicylic, jasmonic and shikimic acids proved to be suitable for the comprehension of plant stress responses. Chemical and heat stresses showed to induce the highest changes in plant hormonal status, differently affecting plant response. The potential of each genetic modification toward the applied stresses was marked and particularly the resistance of the gr modified plants was evidenced. This work provides new information in the study of N. langsdorffii and transgenic organisms, which could be useful for the further application of these transgenes.

Topics: Agrobacterium; Animals; Bacterial Proteins; Chromium; Cyclopentanes; Dehydration; Hot Temperature; Nicotiana; Oxylipins; Plant Growth Regulators; Plants, Genetically Modified; Rats; Receptors, Glucocorticoid; Salicylic Acid; Shikimic Acid; Stress, Physiological; Transgenes; Water

ORA47 (octadecanoid-responsive AP2/ERF-domain transcription factor 47) of Arabidopsis thaliana is an AP2/ERF domain transcription factor that regulates jasmonate (JA) biosynthesis and is induced by methyl JA treatment. The regulatory mechanism of ORA47 remains unclear. ORA47 is shown to bind to the cis-element (NC/GT)CGNCCA, which is referred to as the O-box, in the promoter of ABI2. We proposed that ORA47 acts as a connection between ABA INSENSITIVE1 (ABI1) and ABI2 and mediates an ABI1-ORA47-ABI2 positive feedback loop. PORA47:ORA47-GFP transgenic plants were used in a chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay to show that ORA47 participates in the biosynthesis and/or signaling pathways of nine phytohormones. Specifically, many abscisic acid (ABA) and JA biosynthesis and signaling genes were direct targets of ORA47 under stress conditions. The JA content of the P35S:ORA47-GR lines was highly induced under wounding and moderately induced under water stress relative to that of the wild-type plants. The wounding treatment moderately increased ABA accumulation in the transgenic lines, whereas the water stress treatment repressed the ABA content. ORA47 is proposed to play a role in the biosynthesis of JA and ABA and in regulating the biosynthesis and/or signaling of a suite of phytohormone genes when plants are subjected to wounding and water stress.

Topics: Abscisic Acid; Arabidopsis; Arabidopsis Proteins; Base Sequence; Cyclopentanes; Dehydration; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Oxylipins; Phenotype; Plant Growth Regulators; Plants, Genetically Modified; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Protein Binding; Repressor Proteins; RNA, Messenger; Signal Transduction; Trans-Activators

The growth and fruit quality of grapevines are widely affected by abnormal climatic conditions such as water deficits, but many of the precise mechanisms by which grapevines respond to drought stress are still largely unknown. Here, we report that VaNAC26, a member of the NAC transcription factor family, was upregulated dramatically during cold, drought and salinity treatments in Vitis amurensis, a cold and drought-hardy wild Vitis species. Heterologous overexpression of VaNAC26 enhanced drought and salt tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis. Higher activities of antioxidant enzymes and lower concentrations of H2O2 and O2 (-) were found in VaNAC26-OE lines than in wild type plants under drought stress. These results indicated that scavenging by reactive oxygen species (ROS) was enhanced by VaNAC26 in transgenic lines. Microarray-based transcriptome analysis revealed that genes related to jasmonic acid (JA) synthesis and signaling were upregulated in VaNAC26-OE lines under both normal and drought conditions. VaNAC26 showed a specific binding ability on the NAC recognition sequence (NACRS) motif, which broadly exists in the promoter regions of upregulated genes in transgenic lines. Endogenous JA content significantly increased in the VaNAC26-OE lines 2 and 3. Our data suggest that VaNAC26 responds to abiotic stresses and may enhance drought tolerance by transcriptional regulation of JA synthesis in Arabidopsis.

Topics: Antioxidants; Arabidopsis; Cyclopentanes; Dehydration; Gene Expression Profiling; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Genes, Plant; Oxylipins; Plant Growth Regulators; Plants, Genetically Modified; Transcription Factors; Vitis

Dehydration stress activates numerous genes co-regulated by diverse signaling pathways. Upon repeated exposures, however, a subset of these genes does not respond maintaining instead transcription at their initial pre-stressed levels ('revised-response' genes). Most of these genes are involved in jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthesis, JA-signaling and JA-mediated stress responses. How these JA-associated genes are regulated to provide different responses to similar dehydration stresses is an enigma. Here, we investigate molecular mechanisms that contribute to this transcriptional behavior. The memory-mechanism is stress-specific: one exposure to dehydration stress or to abscisic acid (ABA) is required to prevent transcription in the second. Both ABA-mediated and JA-mediated pathways are critical for the activation of these genes, but the two signaling pathways interact differently during a single or multiple encounters with dehydration stress. Synthesis of JA during the first (S1) but not the second dehydration stress (S2) accounts for the altered transcriptional responses. We propose a model for these memory responses, wherein lack of MYC2 and of JA synthesis in S2 is responsible for the lack of expression of downstream genes. The similar length of the memory displayed by different memory-type genes suggests biological relevance for transcriptional memory as a gene-regulating mechanism during recurring bouts of drought.

Topics: Arabidopsis; Arabidopsis Proteins; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors; Cyclopentanes; Dehydration; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Genes, Plant; Oxylipins; Signal Transduction; Stress, Physiological; Transcriptome

In this paper, we investigated whether nitric oxide (NO) participated in the regulation of the ascorbate-glutathione (AsA-GSH) cycle by exogenous jasmonic acid (JA) in the leaves of wheat seedlings under drought stress. The findings of our study showed that drought stress significantly enhanced the AsA-GSH cycle by upregulating the activities of ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione reductase (GR), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR), and dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR). Drought stress also markedly increased electrolyte leakage (EL), malondialdehyde (MDA) content, NO content, and significantly reduced the ratios of reduced ascorbate/dehydroascorbic acid (AsA/DHA) and reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) compared with control. Exogenous JA significantly increased the above indicators, compared with drought stress alone. All these effects of JA were inhibited by pretreatment with NO scavenger 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide (cPTIO). Meanwhile, exogenous JA markedly decreased MDA content and electrolyte leakage of wheat leaves under drought stress. Pretreatment with cPTIO reversed the above effects of exogenous JA. Our findings indicated that NO induced by exogenous JA upregulated the activity of the AsA-GSH cycle and had important role in drought tolerance.

Topics: Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; Cyclopentanes; Dehydration; Droughts; Glutathione; Lipid Peroxidation; Metabolic Networks and Pathways; Nitric Oxide; Oxidative Stress; Oxylipins; Plant Leaves; Reactive Oxygen Species; Seedlings; Signal Transduction; Triticum

Phytohormones are central players in sensing and signalling numerous environmental conditions like drought. In this work, hormone profiling together with gene expression of key enzymes involved in abscisic acid (ABA) and jasmonate biosynthesis were studied in desiccating Arabidopsis roots. Jasmonic acid (JA) content transiently increased after stress imposition whereas progressive and concomitant ABA and Jasmonoyl Isoleucine (JA-Ile) accumulations were detected. Molecular data suggest that, at least, part of the hormonal regulation takes place at the biosynthetic level. These observations also point to a possible involvement of jasmonates on ABA biosynthesis under stress. To test this hypothesis, mutants impaired in jasmonate biosynthesis (opr3, lox6 and jar1-1) and in JA-dependent signalling (coi1) were employed. Results showed that the early JA accumulation leading to JA-Ile build up was necessary for an ABA increase in roots under two different water stress conditions. Signal transduction between water stress-induced JA-Ile accumulation and COI1 is necessary for a full induction of the ABA biosynthesis pathway and subsequent hormone accumulation in roots of Arabidopsis plants. The present work adds a level of interaction between jasmonates and ABA at the biosynthetic level.

Topics: Abscisic Acid; Arabidopsis; Arabidopsis Proteins; Cyclopentanes; Dehydration; Droughts; Isoleucine; Oxylipins; Plant Growth Regulators; Plant Roots; Signal Transduction; Water

Phytohormones are key players in signaling environmental stress conditions. Hormone profiling together with proline accumulation were studied in leaves and roots of different mutant lines of Arabidopsis. Regulation of proline accumulation in this system seems complex and JA-deficient (jar1-1) and JA-insensitive (jai1) lines accumulating high levels of proline despite their very low ABA levels seems to discard an ABA-dependent response. However, the pattern of proline accumulation in jai1 seedlings parallels that of ABA. Under stress conditions, there is an opposite pattern of ABA accumulation in roots of jar1-1/coi1-16 (in which ABA only slightly increase) and jai1 (in which ABA increase is even higher than in WT plants). This also makes JA-ABA crosstalk complex and discards any lineal pathway that could explain this hormonal interaction.

Topics: Abscisic Acid; Arabidopsis; Cyclopentanes; Dehydration; Desiccation; Isoleucine; Oxylipins; Plant Leaves; Plant Roots; Proline

Drought is a limiting environmental stress that represents a growing constraint to the forestry sector. Eucalyptus globulus is a widely planted coppice species, which capacity to cope with water deficit has already been described. However, the capacity of this species to recover is still poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to investigate the changes in abscisic acid (ABA), ABA-glucose ester (ABA-GE) and jasmonic acid (JA) content in leaves, xylem sap and roots of two genotypes (AL-10 and AL-18) during rewatering (2 h, 4 h, 24 h, and 168 h), after a drought stress period (0 h). We wished to clarify the role of these hormones in the recovery from drought and to determine whether these hormonal relations were related to specific genotype metabolisms. Our results showed that drought caused an increased in ABA and ABA-GE levels in all analysed plant parts, while JA content decreased in leaves, increased in xylem sap and did not change in roots. Some of these responses were genotype specific. During rewatering, ABA and ABA-GE content decreased in both genotypes and all plant parts, but at different time scales, and JA levels did not greatly change. Again, the genotypes responded differently. Altogether, our results characterised the response pattern of clone AL-10 as more responsive and defended that leaf should be used in preliminary screening methods of stress tolerance. The hormonal dynamics were related to the previously documented responses of these genotypes and sustain further physiological and molecular studies of water stress in this and other tree species.

Topics: Abscisic Acid; Cyclopentanes; Dehydration; Eucalyptus; Genotype; Oxylipins; Plant Leaves; Plant Roots

Herbivore attack leads to resource conflicts between plant defensive strategies. Photoassimilates are required for defensive compounds and carbon storage below ground and may therefore be depleted or enriched in the roots of herbivore-defoliated plants. The potential role of belowground tissues as mediators of induced tolerance-defense trade-offs is unknown. We evaluated signaling and carbohydrate dynamics in the roots of Nicotiana attenuata following Manduca sexta attack. Experimental and natural genetic variability was exploited to link the observed metabolite patterns to plant tolerance and resistance. Leaf-herbivore attack decreased sugar and starch concentrations in the roots and reduced regrowth from the rootstock and flower production in the glasshouse and the field. Leaf-derived jasmonates were identified as major regulators of this root-mediated resource-based trade-off: lower jasmonate levels were associated with decreased defense, increased carbohydrate levels and improved regrowth from the rootstock. Application and transport inhibition experiments, in combination with silencing of the sucrose non-fermenting (SNF) -related kinase GAL83, indicated that auxins may act as additional signals that regulate regrowth patterns. In conclusion, our study shows that the ability to mobilize defenses has a hidden resource-based cost below ground that constrains defoliation tolerance. Jasmonate- and auxin-dependent mechanisms may lead to divergent defensive plant strategies against herbivores in nature.

Topics: Animals; Carbon; Chlorophyll; Cyclopentanes; Dehydration; Ecotype; Herbivory; Indoleacetic Acids; Manduca; Nicotiana; Oxylipins; Plant Leaves; Plant Proteins; Plant Roots; Signal Transduction

Root-to-shoot communication plays an important role in the adaptation to environmental stress. In this study, we established a model system for root-to-shoot signalling to observe global gene expression in Arabidopsis thaliana. The roots of Arabidopsis seedlings were wounded and the expression in the shoots of 68 and 5 genes was up-regulated threefold at 30 min and 6 h post-injury, respectively. These genes were designated early and late Root-to-Shoot responsive (RtS) genes, respectively. Many of the early RtS genes were found to encode transcription factors such as AtERFs, whereas others were associated with jasmonic acid (JA) and ethylene (ET). Some of the late RtS genes were shown to be regulated by 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid (OPDA). In fact, elevated levels of JA and OPDA were detected in the shoots of seedlings 30 min and 6 h, respectively, after wounding of the roots. A mutant analysis revealed that JA and ET are involved in the expression of the early RtS genes. Thus, root-to-shoot communication for many RtS genes is associated with the systemic production of JA, OPDA and possibly ET.

Topics: Arabidopsis; Cyclopentanes; Dehydration; Ethylenes; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; Gene Expression Profiling; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Genes, Plant; Mutation; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; Oxylipins; Plant Roots; Plant Shoots; RNA, Plant; Signal Transduction; Stress, Physiological; Transcription Factors

Tocopherols are antioxidants found in chloroplasts of leaves, and it is a matter of current debate whether or not they can affect signaling and gene expression in plant cells. For insight into the possible effects of altered tocopherol composition in chloroplasts on gene expression in the nucleus, the expression of ethylene biosynthesis, perception and signaling genes was investigated in vte1 and vte4 Arabidopsis thaliana mutants, which are impaired in tocopherol (vitamin E) biosynthesis. Changes in gene expression were measured in plants exposed to either salt or water stress, and in young and mature leaves of vte1 and vte4 mutants, which lack tocopherol cyclase and γ-tocopherol methyltransferase, respectively. While transcript levels of ethylene signaling genes in the vte1 mutant and the wild type were similar in all tested conditions, major changes in gene expression occurred in the vte4 mutant, particularly in mature leaves (compared with young leaves) and under salt stress. Accumulation of γ- instead of α-tocopherol in this mutant led to elevated transcript levels of ethylene signaling pathway genes (particularly CTR1, EIN2, EIN3 and ERF1) in mature leaves of control plants. However, with salt treatment, transcript levels of most of these genes remained constant or dropped in the vte4 mutant, while they were dramatically induced in the wild type and the vte1 mutant. Furthermore, under salt stress, leaf age-induced jasmonic acid accumulated in both the vte1 mutant and the wild type, but not in the vte4 mutant. It is concluded that jasmonic acid and ethylene signaling pathways are down-regulated in mature leaves of salt-stressed vte4 plants.

Topics: alpha-Tocopherol; Arabidopsis; Arabidopsis Proteins; Cyclopentanes; Dehydration; Ethylenes; gamma-Tocopherol; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Genes, Plant; Methyltransferases; Mutation; Oxylipins; Plant Leaves; Signal Transduction; Sodium Chloride; Stress, Physiological; Time Factors

Responses to water stress are thought to be mediated by transcriptional regulation of gene expression via reversible protein phosphorylation events. Previously, we reported that bZIP (basic-domain leucine zipper)-type AREB/ABF (ABA-responsive element-binding protein/factor) transcription factors are involved in ABA signaling under water stress conditions in Arabidopsis. The AREB1 protein is phosphorylated in vitro by ABA-activated SNF1-related protein kinase 2s (SnRK2s) such as SRK2D/SnRK2.2, SRK2E/SnRK2.6 and SRK2I/SnRK2.3 (SRK2D/E/I). Consistent with this, we now show that SRK2D/E/I and AREB1 co-localize and interact in nuclei in planta. Our results show that unlike srk2d, srk2e and srk2i single and double mutants, srk2d srk2e srk2i (srk2d/e/i) triple mutants exhibit greatly reduced tolerance to drought stress and highly enhanced insensitivity to ABA. Under water stress conditions, ABA- and water stress-dependent gene expression, including that of transcription factors, is globally and drastically impaired, and jasmonic acid (JA)-responsive and flowering genes are up-regulated in srk2d/e/i triple mutants, but not in other single and double mutants. The down-regulated genes in srk2d/e/i and areb/abf triple mutants largely overlap in ABA-dependent expression, supporting the view that SRK2D/E/I regulate AREB/ABFs in ABA signaling in response to water stress. Almost all dehydration-responsive LEA (late embryogenesis abundant) protein genes and group-A PP2C (protein phosphatase 2C) genes are strongly down-regulated in the srk2d/e/i triple mutants. Further, our data show that these group-A PP2Cs, such as HAI1 and ABI1, interact with SRK2D. Together, our results indicate that SRK2D/E/I function as main positive regulators, and suggest that ABA signaling is controlled by the dual modulation of SRK2D/E/I and group-A PP2Cs.

Topics: Abscisic Acid; Arabidopsis; Arabidopsis Proteins; Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors; Cyclopentanes; Dehydration; Gene Expression Profiling; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Mutagenesis, Insertional; Mutation; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; Oxylipins; Phosphoprotein Phosphatases; Plants, Genetically Modified; Protein Phosphatase 2C; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; Water

Jasmonic acid (JA) is a signalling compound with a key role in both stress and development in plants, and is reported to elicit the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Here we studied the dynamics of such emissions and the linkage with photosynthetic rates and stomatal conductance. We sprayed JA on leaves of the Mediterranean tree species Quercus ilex and measured the photosynthetic rates, stomatal conductances, and emissions and uptake of VOCs using proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry and gas chromatography after a dark-light transition. Jasmonic acid treatment delayed the induction of photosynthesis and stomatal conductance by approx. 20 min, and decreased them 24 h after spraying. Indications were found of both stomatal and nonstomatal limitations of photosynthesis. Monoterpene emissions were enhanced (20-30%) after JA spraying. Jasmonic acid also increased methyl salicylate (MeSa) emissions (more than twofold) 1 h after treatment, although after 24 h this effect had disappeared. Formaldehyde foliar uptake decreased significantly 24 h after JA treatment. Both biotic and abiotic stresses can thus affect plant VOC emissions through their strong impact on JA levels. Jasmonic acid-mediated increases in monoterpene and MeSa emissions might have a protective role when confronting biotic and abiotic stresses.

Topics: Carbon Dioxide; Cyclopentanes; Dehydration; Formaldehyde; Light; Monoterpenes; Oxylipins; Photosynthesis; Plant Leaves; Quercus; Salicylates; Temperature

Four AP2/EREBP genes encoding putative ethylene-responsive element binding factor (ERF)/AP2 domains were cloned from Brassica napus, and these genes could be induced by low temperature, ethylene, drought, high salinity, abscisic acid and jasmonate treatments. These four genes, named BnDREBIII-1 to BnDREBIII-4, were highly homologous and the 37th amino acid was the only difference among their ERF/AP2 domains. BnDREBIII-1 was demonstrated to be able to bind to both dehydration-responsive element and the GCC box and transactivate the expression of downstream genes, while BnDREBIII-4 could bind neither. Further results suggested that Ala37 might play a crucial role in the DNA binding or the stability of the ERF/AP2 domain.

Topics: Abscisic Acid; Adaptation, Physiological; Alanine; Binding Sites; Brassica napus; Conserved Sequence; Cyclopentanes; Dehydration; DNA-Binding Proteins; DNA, Plant; Ethylenes; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Homeodomain Proteins; Nuclear Proteins; Oxylipins; Plant Proteins; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Response Elements; Salts; Seeds; Transcription Factors

The coordinated induced expression of beta-oxidation genes is essential to provide the energy supply for germination and postgerminative development. However, very little is known about other functions of beta-oxidation in nonreserve organs. We have identified a gene-specific pattern of induced beta-oxidation gene expression in wounded leaves of Arabidopsis. Mechanical damage triggered the local and systemic induction of only ACX1 among acyl-coenzyme A oxidase (ACX) genes, and KAT2/PED1 among 3-ketoacyl-coenzyme A thiolase (KAT) genes in Arabidopsis. In turn, wounding induced KAT5/PKT2 only systemically. Although most of the beta-oxidation genes were activated by wound-related factors such as dehydration and abscisic acid, jasmonic acid (JA) induced only ACX1 and KAT5. Reduced expression of ACX1 or KAT2 genes, in transgenic plants expressing their corresponding mRNAs in antisense orientation, correlated with defective wound-activated synthesis of JA and with reduced expression of JA-responsive genes. Induced expression of JA-responsive genes by exogenous application of JA was unaffected in those transgenic plants, suggesting that ACX1 and KAT2 play a major role in driving wound-activated responses by participating in the biosynthesis of JA in wounded Arabidopsis plants.

Topics: Abscisic Acid; Acyl-CoA Oxidase; Antisense Elements (Genetics); Arabidopsis; Arabidopsis Proteins; Cyclopentanes; Dehydration; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Oxylipins; Plant Growth Regulators; Plants, Genetically Modified; Potassium Channels; Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated; Stress, Mechanical