Open AccessComparative proteomics combined with analyses of transgenic plants reveal Zm REM 1.3 mediates maize resistance to southern corn rust
Author(s) -
Wang Shunxi,
Chen Zan,
Tian Lei,
Ding Yezhang,
Zhang Jun,
Zhou Jinlong,
Liu Ping,
Chen Yanhui,
Wu Liuji
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
plant biotechnology journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.525
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1467-7652
pISSN - 1467-7644
DOI - 10.1111/pbi.13129
Subject(s) - biology , jasmonic acid , salicylic acid , genetically modified crops , genetically modified maize , rust (programming language) , plant disease resistance , transgene , genotype , plant defense against herbivory , gene , mutant , botany , genetics , computer science , programming language
Summary Southern corn rust ( SCR ), which is a destructive disease caused by Puccinia polysora Underw. ( P. polysora ), commonly occurs in warm‐temperate and tropical regions. To identify candidate proteins related to SCR resistance and characterize the molecular mechanisms underlying the maize– P. polysora interaction, a comparative proteomic analysis of susceptible and resistant maize lines was performed. Statistical analyses revealed 1489 differentially abundant proteins in the resistant line, as well as 1035 differentially abundant proteins in the susceptible line. After the P. polysora infection, the abundance of one remorin protein (Zm REM 1.3) increased in the resistant genotype, but decreased in the susceptible genotype. Plant‐specific remorins are important for responses to microbial infections as well as plant signalling processes. In this study, transgenic maize plants overexpressing Zm REM 1.3 exhibited enhanced resistance to the biotrophic P. polysora . In contrast, homozygous Zm REM 1.3 UniformMu mutant plants were significantly more susceptible to P. polysora than wild‐type plants. Additionally, the Zm REM 1.3 ‐overexpressing plants accumulated more salicylic acid ( SA ) and jasmonic acid ( JA ). Moreover, the expression levels of defence‐related genes were higher in Zm REM 1.3 ‐overexpressing maize plants than in non‐transgenic control plants in response to the P. polysora infection. Overall, our results provide evidence that Zm REM 1.3 positively regulates maize defences against P. polysora likely via SA / JA ‐mediated defence signalling pathways. This study represents the first large‐scale proteomic analysis of the molecular mechanisms underlying the maize– P. polysora interaction. This is also the first report confirming the remorin protein family affects plant resistance to SCR .