Plant virus infections control stomatal development

Abstract

Stomata are important regulators of carbon dioxide uptake and transpirational water loss. They also represent points of vulnerability as bacterial and fungal pathogens utilise this natural opening as an entry portal, and thus have an increasingly complex relationship. Unlike the situation with bacterial and fungal pathogens, we know very little about the role of stomata in viral infection. Here we report findings showing that viral infection influences stomatal development in two susceptible host systems (Nicotiana tabacum with TMV (Tobacco mosaic virus), and Arabidopsis thaliana with TVCV (Turnip vein-clearing virus)), but not in resistant host systems (Nicotiana glutinosa and Chenopodium quinoa with TMV). Virus infected plants had significantly lower stomatal indices in systemic leaves of susceptible systems; N. tabacum 9.8% reduction and A. thaliana 12.3% reduction, but not in the resistant hosts. Stomatal density in systemic leaves was also significantly reduced in virus infected A. thaliana by 19.6% but not in N. tabacum or the resistant systems. In addition, transpiration rate was significantly reduced in TMV infected N. tabacum.

Virulence determines beneficial trade‐offs in the response of virus‐infected plants to drought via induction of salicylic acid

“…A recent work has shown that infection with TMV and turnip vein clearing virus influenced stomatal development in Nicotiana tabacum and A. thaliana respectively, which was associated with a reduction in stomatal density and index (Murray et al ). Accordingly, transpiration rate was significantly reduced in N. tabacum infected with TMV, because maximum stomatal conductance is controlled mainly by stomatal density and size (Franks et al ).…”

Stomatal Defense a Decade Later

“…One of the earliest reports on this phenomenon shows that sugar beet infected with Beet yellow virus has lower stomatal density on both upper and lower leaf surfaces as compared to the mock control (Hall and Loomis, 1972). Virus-induced reduction of stomatal density seems to be a systemic response (Murray et al, 2016). Additionally, Murray et al (2016) reported that systemic reduction of stomatal index and density only occurred in two compatible interactions, Nicotiana tabacum-Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) and ArabidopsisTurnip vein-clearing virus, but not in two incompatible interactions, namely, Nicotiana glutinosa-TMV and Chenopodium quinoa-TMV.…”

“…Virus-induced reduction of stomatal density seems to be a systemic response (Murray et al, 2016). Additionally, Murray et al (2016) reported that systemic reduction of stomatal index and density only occurred in two compatible interactions, Nicotiana tabacum-Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) and ArabidopsisTurnip vein-clearing virus, but not in two incompatible interactions, namely, Nicotiana glutinosa-TMV and Chenopodium quinoa-TMV. Reduction of stomatal index and density correlated with reduction in plant leaf transpiration and water loss in TMV-inoculated N. tabacum (Murray et al, 2016).…”

“…Additionally, Murray et al (2016) reported that systemic reduction of stomatal index and density only occurred in two compatible interactions, Nicotiana tabacum-Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) and ArabidopsisTurnip vein-clearing virus, but not in two incompatible interactions, namely, Nicotiana glutinosa-TMV and Chenopodium quinoa-TMV. Reduction of stomatal index and density correlated with reduction in plant leaf transpiration and water loss in TMV-inoculated N. tabacum (Murray et al, 2016). A possible link between viral infection and stomatal development may be a microtubule-associated protein, MPB2C, found in both N. tabacum and Arabidopsis (Kragler et al, 2003;Ruggenthaler et al, 2009).…”

Virus infection induces resistance to Pseudomonas syringae and to drought in both compatible and incompatible bacteria–host interactions, which are compromised under conditions of elevated temperature and CO2 levels

“…N. benthamiana and Arabidopsis plants infected with PVX-HC and PPV-P25 respectively, showed an increased production of SA and enhanced expression of SAresponsive genes (this study; [3,37] ). Nevertheless, SA and JA-independent defense responses were also elicited by associated with a reduction in stomatal density [49]. Moreover, it has been reported that SA accumulation plays an important role in stomatal closure via production of ROS [41].…”