The Jasmonic Acid Signaling Pathway is Associated with Terpinen-4-ol-Induced Disease Resistance against Botrytis cinerea in Strawberry Fruit

Abstract

Terpinen-4-ol, the main component of tea tree oil, markedly increases the disease resistance of postharvest strawberry fruit. To understand the mechanism underlying the enhancement of disease resistance, a high-throughput RNA-seq was used to analyze gene transcription in terpinen-4-ol-treated and untreated fruit. The results show that terpinen-4-ol induces the expression of genes in the jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthesis pathway, secondary metabolic pathways such as phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and pathways involved in plant-pathogen interactions. Terpinen-4-ol treatment reduced disease incidence and lesion diameter in strawberry fruit inoculated with Botrytis cinerea. Terpinen-4-ol treatment enhanced the expression of genes involved in JA synthesis (FaLOX, FaAOC, and FaOPR3) and signaling (FaCOI1), as well as genes related to disease defense (FaPAL, FaCHI, and FaGLU). In contrast, treatment with the JA biosynthesis inhibitor salicylhydroxamic acid (SHAM) accelerated disease development and inhibited the induction of gene expressions by terpinen-4-ol. We conclude that the JA pathway participates in the induction of disease resistance by terpinen-4-ol in strawberry fruit. More generally, the results illuminate the mechanisms by which disease resistance is enhanced by essential oils.

Cell wall modification and lignin biosynthesis involved in disease resistance against Diaporthe citri in harvested pummelo fruit elicited by carvacrol

“…Lignin can strengthen cell wall and act as a natural physical barrier for any fungus entry and infection, where the key enzymes involved in lignin biosynthesis include PAL, C4H, CAD, and POD 19,20,42 . Enhanced enzymes activities and up‐regulated gene expressions involved in lignin biosynthesis effectively contributed to the lignin deposition, thereby inducing the resistance in citrus fruit, litchi, 40 kiwifruit, 12 and strawberry 38,43 . Our results precisely showed that CVR treatment increased the activities of PAL, CAD and POD, and up‐regulated the expression levels of CgPAL1 , CgCAD2 and CgPOD1 after 3 days of D. citri inoculation (Fig.…”

Salicylate Treatment Affects Fruit Quality and Also Alters the Composition of Metabolites in Strawberries

“…Increased TAP in treated strawberry fruits may be the reason for the maintenance of ascorbic acid content, since phenolics have a protective effect [35], but this may also be attributed to a delay in the senescence process [26]. Similar effects of SA on total phenolic content have also been shown in table grape [42], cucumber [43], orange [35], pomegranate [25] apricot [40], and peach [44].…”

“…Thereby, these metabolites help to protect fruit from pathogens. This was also the case for terpinen-4-ol [42,43]. Increased TAP in treated strawberry fruits may be the reason for the maintenance of ascorbic acid content, since phenolics have a protective effect [35], but this may also be attributed to a delay in the senescence process [26].…”

A New Species in Pseudophialophora From Wild Rice and Beneficial Potential

“…These reports were consistent with our results that up-regulated expression of PR1 α, NAC, OsSAUR2 , and EL5 can enhance the systemic disease resistance of rice after P. oryzae inoculated rice roots. In addition, salicylic acid (SA) ( Janda et al, 2020 ), jasmonic acid (JA) ( Barna et al, 2012 ; Li et al, 2021 ) and ethylene (ET) ( Wang et al, 2019 ) also play important roles in inducing resistance ( Glazebrook, 2005 ; McDowell et al, 2005 ; Flors et al, 2008 ). AOS ( Gfeller et al, 2010 ; Xiao et al, 2019 ) and ERF4 ( Yang et al, 2005 ) are key genes of JA biosynthesis pathway and ethylene pathway, respectively.…”