Open AccessHexanoic acid protects tomato plants against B otrytis cinerea by priming defence responses and reducing oxidative stress
Author(s) -
Finiti Ivan,
O. Leyva María,
Vicedo Begonya,
GómezPastor Rocío,
LópezCruz Jaime,
GarcíaAgustín Pilar,
Real Maria Dolores,
GonzálezBosch Carmen
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
molecular plant pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.945
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1364-3703
pISSN - 1464-6722
DOI - 10.1111/mpp.12112
Subject(s) - hexanoic acid , priming (agriculture) , biology , reactive oxygen species , oxidative stress , glutathione , biochemistry , gene , gene expression , aldehyde dehydrogenase , antioxidant , enzyme , botany , germination
Summary Treatment with the resistance priming inducer hexanoic acid ( Hx ) protects tomato plants from B otrytis cinerea by activating defence responses. To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying hexanoic acid‐induced resistance ( Hx ‐ IR ), we compared the expression profiles of three different conditions: B otrytis ‐infected plants ( Inf ), Hx ‐treated plants ( Hx ) and Hx ‐treated + infected plants ( Hx + Inf ). The microarray analysis at 24 h post‐inoculation showed that Hx and Hx + Inf plants exhibited the differential expression and priming of many B otrytis ‐induced genes. Interestingly, we found that the activation by Hx of other genes was not altered by the fungus at this time point. These genes may be considered to be specific targets of the Hx priming effect and may help to elucidate its mechanisms of action. It is noteworthy that, in Hx and Hx + Inf plants, there was up‐regulation of proteinase inhibitor genes, DNA ‐binding factors, enzymes involved in plant hormone signalling and synthesis, and, remarkably, the genes involved in oxidative stress. Given the relevance of the oxidative burst occurring in plant–pathogen interactions, the effect of Hx on this process was studied in depth. We showed by specific staining that reactive oxygen species ( ROS ) accumulation in Hx + Inf plants was reduced and more restricted around infection sites. In addition, these plants showed higher ratios of reduced to oxidized glutathione and ascorbate, and normal levels of antioxidant activities. The results obtained indicate that Hx protects tomato plants from B . cinerea by regulating and priming B otrytis ‐specific and non‐specific genes, preventing the harmful effects of oxidative stress produced by infection.