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Molecular characterization of peach PR genes and their induction kinetics in response to bacterial infection and signaling molecules

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Abstract

‘Venture’ and ‘BabyGold 5’ are two peach cultivars with a demonstrated resistance and susceptibility, respectively, to bacterial spot disease caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. pruni (Xcp). To explore the differences between these cultivars at the molecular level, two PR1 (Pp-PR1a, Pp-PR1b) and three PR5 (Pp-TLP1, Pp-TLP2 and Pp-TLP3) genes were isolated from peach (Prunus persica L.) and investigated by in silico and in situ approaches. The analysis of gene expression by qRT-PCR indicated that all PR genes, except Pp-PR1a, were induced to a significantly higher degree in the resistant cultivar. In response to signaling molecules, Pp-PR1a was induced chiefly by SA treatment, while other PR genes were induced mainly by ethephon or MeJA treatments. The induction of the same set of PR genes in response to bacterial infection, MeJA or ethephon suggests the involvement of jasmonic acid (JA)/ethylene (ET)-signaling pathways in mediating resistance against Xcp, which is consistent with the potential hemibiotrophic nature of this bacterium. The identification of binding sites for ERF and MYC2 transcription factors in the promoter of Pp-TLP1 and Pp-TLP2 genes further supported the role of JA/ET pathways in the transcription regulation of these genes. The role of stomata in defense against Xcp was also investigated by measuring stomatal apertures in both ‘Venture’ and ‘BabyGold 5’ leaves after 1 and 3 HPI. While most stomata closed in both cultivars within 1 HPI, stomata reopened again at 3 HPI with a higher percentage recorded for ‘BabyGold 5’, suggesting a potential role of stomata in the susceptibility of this cultivar.

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Abbreviations

aa:

Amino acids

DPI:

Days post-inoculation

ET:

Ethylene

ETI:

Effector-triggered immunity

DAMPs:

Damage-associated molecular patterns

GFP:

Green fluorescent protein

HPI:

Hours post-inoculation

JA:

Jasmonic acid

HPT:

Hours post-treatment

PAMPs:

Pathogen-associated molecular patterns

PTI:

PAMP-triggered immunity

PR:

Pathogenesis-related

SA:

Salicylic acid

SAR:

Systemic acquired resistance

TLPs:

Thaumatin-like proteins

Xcp :

Xanthomonas campestris pv. pruni

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Dr. J. Tambong (AAFC-Ottawa, ON, Canada) for providing us with the bacterial strain and Dr. I. El-Sharkawy (VRIC, ON, Canada) for the pGreen binary vector. Work is supported by funds from the Ministry of Higher Education (Egypt; SS) and grant 026541 of Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (Canada; SJ).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, 4890 Victoria Av. N, P.O. Box 7000, Vineland Station, ON, L0R 2E0, Canada

    S. Sherif & Subramanian Jayasankar

  2. Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada

    S. Sherif & G. Paliyath

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  1. S. Sherif
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  2. G. Paliyath
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Correspondence to Subramanian Jayasankar.

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Communicated by P. Kumar.

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Sherif, S., Paliyath, G. & Jayasankar, S. Molecular characterization of peach PR genes and their induction kinetics in response to bacterial infection and signaling molecules. Plant Cell Rep 31, 697–711 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-011-1188-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-011-1188-6

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