The mature maize grains exposed to fungal volatile organic compounds, increase their gene expression and enzymatic activity of lipoxygenases.

ACHIMÓN F; ARECO V.; ZUNINO M.P; USSEGLIO, V. L.; PORPORATTO C.; ZYGADLO J.A; JACQUAT A; BOHL L; PIZZOLITTO R.; DAMBOLENA J.S

Congreso; Primer Congreso Argentino de Semillas; 2020

The oxylipins compounds (lipoxygenase (LOX) activity derivate) play an important role in plant-defenses,like chemical defenses against microorganism infections and herbivore attacks. In plants, the defensescan be induced or priming by volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by other plants, fungi andbacteria, however, little is known about its role on physiological maturity of maize grains. During grainstorage, different biological interactions with other microorganisms can occur through VOCs. Fusariumverticillioides (Fv) is the predominant Fusarium species in maize grains and has been shown that theirvolatile compounds can affect the performance of neighboring grains. The potential acquired resistance ofmaize kernel exposed to VOCs could provide great agronomic benefits in order to control the maizediseases. The objective was to study, at genetic and enzymatic level, the oxylipins pathway induction ingrains through VOCs. Two atmosphere-connected compartments were used. The inductors were VOCsemitted by Fv growing on maize, 1-octen-3-ol pure and 3-octanol pure. In the other compartment, maturemaize grains were placed. In grains exposed to VOCs, the ZmLOX12 (NM_001112527.1) gene showed asignificant increase in expression levels. Then, the basal LOX enzymatic activity of grains exposed tofungal VOCs and 1-octen-3-ol showed a significant increase, while 1-octanol exposition did not. Thesesuggest that the mature maize embryo is able to sense small molecules from its environment, and trigger aresponse. Future studies evaluating the potential acquired resistance of mature maize kernels exposed tofungal VOC against fungi and insects should be performed.