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The phenylpropanoid pathway inhibitor piperonylic acid induces broad‐spectrum pest and disease resistance in plants
Author(s) -
Desmedt Willem,
Jonckheere Wim,
Nguyen Viet Ha,
Ameye Maarten,
De Zutter Noémie,
De Kock Karen,
Debode Jane,
Van Leeuwen Thomas,
Audenaert Kris,
Vanholme Bartel,
Kyndt Tina
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
plant, cell and environment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.646
H-Index - 200
eISSN - 1365-3040
pISSN - 0140-7791
DOI - 10.1111/pce.14119
Subject(s) - phenylpropanoid , biology , salicylic acid , metabolome , plant immunity , systemic acquired resistance , cinnamic acid , plant defense against herbivory , biochemistry , botany , arabidopsis , gene , biosynthesis , mutant , metabolite
Although many phenylpropanoid pathway‐derived molecules act as physical and chemical barriers to pests and pathogens, comparatively little is known about their role in regulating plant immunity. To explore this research field, we transiently perturbed the phenylpropanoid pathway through application of the CINNAMIC ACID‐4‐HYDROXYLASE (C4H) inhibitor piperonylic acid (PA). Using bioassays involving diverse pests and pathogens, we show that transient C4H inhibition triggers systemic, broad‐spectrum resistance in higher plants without affecting growth. PA treatment enhances tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum ) resistance in field and laboratory conditions, thereby illustrating the potential of phenylpropanoid pathway perturbation in crop protection. At the molecular level, transcriptome and metabolome analyses reveal that transient C4H inhibition in tomato reprograms phenylpropanoid and flavonoid metabolism, systemically induces immune signalling and pathogenesis‐related genes, and locally affects reactive oxygen species metabolism. Furthermore, C4H inhibition primes cell wall modification and phenolic compound accumulation in response to root‐knot nematode infection. Although PA treatment induces local accumulation of the phytohormone salicylic acid, the PA resistance phenotype is preserved in tomato plants expressing the salicylic acid‐degrading NahG construct. Together, our results demonstrate that transient phenylpropanoid pathway perturbation is a conserved inducer of plant resistance and thus highlight the crucial regulatory role of this pathway in plant immunity.