The tomato phosphatidylinositol-phospholipase C2 (SlPLC2) modulates defense responses to Botrytis cinerea.

GONORAZKY MG; GUZZO ML; ARJEN TEN HAVE; VOSSEN JH; LAXALT AM

Mar del Plata

Congreso; XV Congreso Latinoamericano de Fisiología Vegetal; 2014

P { margin-bottom: 0.21cm; } The tomato [Solanum lycopersicum (Sl)] phosphatidylinositol-phospholipase C (PI-PLC) gene family is composed of six members, named SlPLC1 to SlPLC6, differentially regulated upon pathogen attack. We have previously shown that the fungal elicitor xylanase induces a raise of SlPLC2 and SlPLC5 transcripts and that SlPLC2 is required forxylanase-induced expression of defense-related genes. In this work we study the role of SlPLC2 in the interaction between tomato and the necrotrophic fungus Botrytis cinerea. Inoculation of tomato leaves with B. cinerea diminishes SlPLC1 transcripts, while increases transcript levels of SlPLC2 to SlPLC6. We knocked-down the expression of SlPLC2by virus-induced gene silencing and analyzed plant defense responses upon B.cinerea inoculation. SlPLC2 silenced plants developed smaller necrotic lesions concomitantly with minor levels of B. cinerea ACTINE, which shows less proliferation of the fungus. Silencing of SlPLC2 resulted as well in reduced production of reactive oxigen species. Transcript levels of the salicylic acid-defense gene marker SlPR1a were diminished in SlPLC2 silenced plants, while transcripts of the jasmonic acid-defense gene marker Proteinase Inhibitor II (SlPI-II) were increased. These results indicate that SlPLC2 modulates plant susceptibility to B. cinerea. The putative role of SlPLC2 in plant resistance to biotrophic pathogens remains to be demonstrated.