Effects of powdery mildew infection on chloroplast and mitochondrial functions in rubber tree

Abstract

Powdery mildew (Oidium heveae Steinm.) is one of the most important leaf diseases in rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis). However, physiological and molecular processes associated with the Hevea-powdery mildew interaction are still unclear. In this study, effects of powdery mildew infection on the mitochondrial and chloroplast functions in rubber tree were comprehensively investigated. Powdery mildew damaged the structure and function of mitochondria prior to chloroplasts, causing inner and outer membranes disruption. The intact rate of mitochondria membrane was reduced from 70% in control leaves to 23.1% in the leaves at 5 days after inoculation (dai). Significant decreases in the activities of cytochrome c oxidase, NADH oxidation and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) were observed in the powdery mildew-infected leaves. Tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) and electron transfer capacity were seriously impaired after powdery mildew invasion. Chlorophyll (Chl) contents, maximal photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm), actual photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (ΦPSII), and electron transport rate (ETR) were dramatically decreased in the infected leaves from 10 dai. Our results provided new insights into understanding the mechanism of Hevea-powdery mildew interaction in rubber tree.

Powdery Mildew-Induced Hormonal and Photosynthetic Changes in Barley Near Isogenic Lines Carrying Various Resistant Genes

“…According to Wang et al [ 21 ], powdery mildew infection of rubber tree was connected to an increase of carotenoids content. Therefore, it is possible that the defense reaction of powdery mildew resistant plants would be an opposite reaction‒a reduction of carotenoid content following inoculation.…”

Phosphite Application Alleviates Pythophthora infestans by Modulation of Photosynthetic and Physio-Biochemical Metabolites in Potato Leaves

“…H 2 O 2 and MDA reduction indicates that KPhi application have protective effect on oxidative damages due to pathogen infection. A study reported by [58] on powdery mildew from the rubber tree indicated that MDA levels were increased in the infected plants. It is the first report that explored role of KPhi application mitigating ROS production after late blight infection in potato.…”

Assessment of the Response of Beta Carotene Enhanced Transgenic Soybeans to Soybean Mosaic Virus (SMV)

“…In addition, beta-carotene as one of defense chemicals has been reported could be distinctly increased under biotic and abiotic environmental stresses in plants (Rosenfeld et al 1998;Du et al 2010;Kim et al 2012b;Wang et al 2014). Therefore, it is worth noting that amounts of endogenous beta-carotene would be favorable for strengthening the plant defense system under biotic stresses, such as virus attacks.…”

“…In plants, several studies suggested that the antioxidant activity of plants under salt, high temperature, drought, and pathogen stress could be enhanced by increasing their beta-carotene, vitamin C, and lycopene content (Rosenfeld et al 1998;Du et al 2010;Kim et al 2012b;Wang et al 2014). Recent years, transgenic plants have been developed by metabolic engineering to enhance the production of carotenoids, such as beta-carotene (pro-vitamin A), vio-laxanthin, and zeaxanthin, thereby increasing the nutrient value and stress tolerance of plants.…”