Overexpression of NDR1 Leads to Pathogen Resistance at Elevated Temperatures

Abstract

Abiotic and biotic environments influence a myriad of plant-related processes, including growth, development, and the establishment and maintenance of interaction(s) with microbes. As a driver of this signaling between plants and microbes, the role of plant hormones in both surveillance and signaling has emerged as a point of intersection between plant-abiotic and -biotic responses. In the current study, we elucidate a role for NON-RACE-SPECIFIC DISEASE RESISTANCE1 (NDR1) by exploiting effector-triggered immunity (ETI) to define the regulation of plant host immunity in response to both pathogen infection and elevated temperature. We generated time-series RNA sequencing data of WT Col-0, a NDR1 overexpression line, as well as ndr1 and ics1-2 mutant plants under elevated temperature. Not surprisingly, the NDR1-overexpression line showed genotype-specific gene expression changes related to defense response and immune system function. Interestingly, overexpression of NDR1 revealed a role for NDR1 in immune system function; specifically, we describe a mechanism that intersects with Pseudomonas syringae, type-III effector translocation, R-protein signaling complex stabilization, and sustained levels of SA at elevated temperature during ETI. The results described herein support a role for NDR1 in maintaining cell signaling during simultaneous exposure to elevated temperature and avirulent pathogen stressors.One-sentence summaryNDR1 is required for Pst-AvrRpt2 triggered ETI at elevated temperature.