Induction of isoprenyl diphosphate synthases, plant hormones and defense signalling genes correlates with traumatic resin duct formation in Norway spruce (Picea abies)

Abstract

Norway spruce (Picea abies) defends itself against herbivores and pathogens by formation of traumatic resin ducts filled with terpenoid-based oleoresin. An important group of enzymes in terpenoid biosynthesis are the short-chain isoprenyl diphosphate synthases which produce geranyl diphosphate (C10), farnesyl diphosphate (C15), and geranylgeranyl diphosphate (C20) as precursors of monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and diterpene resin acids, respectively. After treatment with methyl jasmonate (MJ) we investigated the expression of all isoprenyl diphosphate synthase genes characterized to date from Norway spruce and correlated this with formation of traumatic resin ducts and terpene accumulation. Formation of traumatic resin ducts correlated with higher amounts of monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes and diterpene resin acids and an upregulation of isoprenyl diphosphate synthase genes producing geranyl diphosphate or geranylgeranyl diphosphate. Among defense hormones, jasmonate and jasmonate-isoleucine conjugate accumulated to higher levels in trees with extensive traumatic resin duct formation, whereas salicylate did not. Jasmonate and ethylene are likely to both be involved in formation of traumatic resin ducts based on elevated transcripts of genes encoding lipoxygenase and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid oxidase associated with resin duct formation. Other genes involved in defense signalling in other systems, mitogen-activated protein kinase3 and nonexpressor of pathogenesis-related gene1, were also associated with traumatic resin duct formation. These responses were detected not only at the site of MJ treatment, but also systemically up to 60 cm above the site of treatment on the trunk.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s11103-011-9832-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Priming of inducible defenses protects Norway spruce against tree‐killing bark beetles

“…Using RT‐qPCR, we found a significant impact of MeJA treatment and fungal inoculation on defense‐related gene expression compared with the control trees at 14 days after treatment. We examined the transcript level of three groups of genes: (a) two pathogenesis‐related genes (the chitinase Chi4 and the peroxidase PX3 ); (b) four phenylpropanoid biosynthesis genes known to be up‐regulated by mechanical wounding or insect feeding (phenylalanine ammonia‐lyase, cinnamate‐4‐hydroxylase, cinnamoyl‐CoA reductase, and hydroxycinnamoyl‐CoA shikimate/quinate hydroxycinnamoyl transferase); and (c) five genes involved in terpene biosynthesis (three isoprenyl diphosphate synthases [ IDS1 , IDS2 , and IDS5 ], (+)‐3‐carene synthase [ TPS‐Car ], and (−)‐limonene synthase [ TPS‐Lim ]; Fossdal et al, ; Schmidt et al, ).…”

Determination of Terpenoid Content in Pine by Organic Solvent Extraction and Fast-GC Analysis

“…Monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes have also been investigated as potential sources of renewable fuel (Monteiro and Veloso, 2004;Harvey et al, 2009;Peralta-Yahya et al, 2011;Renninger et al, 2011;Meylemans et al, 2012;Rodrigues-Corrêa et al, 2012;Hellier et al, 2013;Vallinayagam et al, 2014). Efforts have been made to understand the genetic, ecological, and physicochemical processes behind the production and accumulation of terpenoids in pine and other feedstocks (Nerg et al, 1994;Manninen et al, 2002;Martin et al, 2002;Bojovic et al, 2005;Schmidt et al, 2011;Achotegui-Castells et al, 2013;Susaeta et al, 2014). For this type of research, it is important to accurately measure the terpenoid content in biomass to be able to compare the variables potentially affecting terpenoid production and accumulation.…”

“…Efforts have been made to understand the genetic, ecological, and physicochemical processes behind the production and accumulation of terpenoids in pine and other feedstocks (Nerg et al, 1994;Manninen et al, 2002;Martin et al, 2002;Bojovic et al, 2005;Schmidt et al, 2011;Achotegui-Castells et al, 2013;Susaeta et al, 2014). For this type of research, it is important to accurately measure the terpenoid content in biomass to be able to compare the variables potentially affecting terpenoid production and accumulation.…”

Overexpression of an Isoprenyl Diphosphate Synthase in Spruce Leads to Unexpected Terpene Diversion Products That Function in Plant Defense

“…The rest was used for monoterpene and sesquiterpene analysis. GC conditions were as described by Schmidt et al (2011). All terpenes were quantified on a fresh weight basis; the ratio of fresh weight to dry weight is about 3.5 for needles and 4.0 for bark tissues.…”

“…Quantitative Real-Time PCR and Quantitative Genomic PCR RNA isolation, complementary DNA synthesis, and quantitative PCR from needle tissue were done as described by Schmidt et al (2011). Quantitative genomic PCR was done from needle tissue as described by Schmidt et al (2010).…”