The fungal elicitor AsES requires a functional ethylene pathway to activate the innate immunity in strawberry

PERATO, S. M.; FURIO, R. N.; TOMAS-GRAU, R. H.; CARO, M. P.; HAEL-CONRAD, V.; DÍAZ-RICCI, J. C.; MARTINEZ?ZAMORA, M. G.

PLANT BIOLOGY

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Año: 2020 vol. 22 p. 1030 - 1040

1435-8603

? Acremonium strictum Elicitor Subtilisin (AsES) is a fungal elicitor that activates innateimmunity, conferring disease resistance in strawberry (Fragaria 9 ananassa Duch.),Arabidopsis and other plant species. The aim of the present work was to evaluate theinvolvement of the ethylene (ET) signalling pathway in AsES-mediated immuneresponse in strawberry.? Ethylene production and expression of the genes responsible for ET synthesis, perceptionand response were measured after AsES treatment. ROS (H2O2) accumulationand immunity induced by AsES were studied after ET perception was blocked by 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP).? Biochemical and molecular results showed that AsES induced a marked increase inlocal and systemic biosynthesis of ET, both in a biphasic manner. Blocking of ET perceptionby 1-MCP prior to AsES induction reduced production of ROS (H2O2) andprevented AsES from eliciting defence against fungal pathogens having different lifestyles,such as Botrytis cinerea (necrotrophic) and Colletotrichum acutatum (hemibiotrophic).? These findings contribute to elucidate the mode of action of the novel elicitor subtilase,AsES, specifically regarding the role of ET signalling in the activation of plant innateimmunity, in addition to the multitude of processes regulated by ET in plants.