Reactive Oxygen Species Are Involved in Plant Defense against a Gall Midge    

Abstract

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a major role in plant defense against pathogens, but evidence for their role in defense against insects is still preliminary and inconsistent. In this study, we examined the potential role of ROS in defense of wheat (Triticum aestivum) and rice (Oryza sativa) against Hessian fly (Mayetiola destructor) larvae. Rapid and prolonged accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) was detected in wheat plants at the attack site during incompatible interactions. Increased accumulation of both H 2 O 2 and superoxide was detected in rice plants during nonhost interactions with the larvae. No increase in accumulation of either H 2 O 2 or superoxide was observed in wheat plants during compatible interactions. A global analysis revealed changes in the abundances of 250 wheat transcripts and 320 rice transcripts encoding proteins potentially involved in ROS homeostasis. A large number of transcripts encoded class III peroxidases that increased in abundance during both incompatible and nonhost interactions, whereas the levels of these transcripts decreased in susceptible wheat during compatible interactions. The higher levels of class III peroxidase transcripts were associated with elevated enzymatic activity of peroxidases at the attack site in plants during incompatible and nonhost interactions. Overall, our data indicate that class III peroxidases may play a role in ROS generation in resistant wheat and nonhost rice plants during response to Hessian fly attacks.

Reactive oxygen species and plant resistance to fungal pathogens

“…ROS-mediated cell wall modifications are also involved in the defence of plants against insects. Cell wall modifications mediated by ROS also take part during the interaction of wheat (Triticum aestivum) or rice (Oryza sativa) with larvae of the Hessian fly (Mayetiola destructor) (Liu et al, 2010). The most important ROS-induced mechanisms during plant-microbe interactions are shown.…”

“…They consist in non-fluorescent molecules that become fluorescent when oxidised by ROS, and the emitted fluorescence can be observed by fluorimetry and/or by fluorescent microscopy, an advantage of such probes (Benikhlef et al, 2013;Bulgakov et al, 2012;Fester and Hause, 2005;Guo et al, 2010;Kolla et al, 2007;L'Haridon et al, 2011;Li et al, 2007;Liu et al, 2010;Ma et al, 2013;Peleg-Grossman et al, 2012;Plancot et al, 2013;Tada et al, 2004;Wen et al, 2008;Ye et al, 2013). Luminol or luminol analogues are sensitive chemiluminescent probes used to quantify a relative intensity of ROS by counting the emitted light with a luminometer, CDD camera or a scintillation counter (Dubreuil-Maurizi et al, 2010;Flury et al, 2013;Kunz et al, 2006;L'Haridon et al, 2011;Mersmann et al, 2010).…”

Transcriptional responses of tolerant and susceptible soybeans to soybean aphid (Aphis glycines Matsumura) herbivory

“…Further evidence has documented increased levels of peroxidases playing a role in defensive responses to aphid herbivory in a number of plant systems (Argandona et al 2001;Ni et al 2001;Park et al 2005a, b;Smith and Boyko 2007;Gutsche et al 2009). Changes in peroxidases, based on microarray analyses, have also been documented in the rice/wheat-Hessian fly systems (Liu et al 2010), and these changes appear to be part of the plant defense against this pest.…”

Plant development reprogramming by cynipid gall wasp: proteomic analysis

“…On one hand, stress and pathogenesis-related proteins can play a protective role against insects; on the other hand, by involvement in ABA signalling, it may be responsive for initiation/building of the isolation structure (gall) from the plant tissues. Liu et al (2010) showed that reactive oxygen species are implicated in plant defence against a gall midge. In rice class III, peroxidases play a role in the response against Hessian fly attacks.…”