The apple FERONIA receptor‐like kinase MdMRLK2 negatively regulates Valsa canker resistance by suppressing defence responses and hypersensitive reaction
Open Access
- 12 April 2022
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Wiley in Molecular Plant Pathology
- Vol. 23 (8), 1170-1186
- https://doi.org/10.1111/mpp.13218
Abstract
Valsa canker, caused by the fungus Valsa mali, is one of the most destructive diseases of apple trees in China and other East Asian countries. The plant receptor-like kinase FERONIA is involved in plant cell growth, development, and immunity. However, little is known about the function of FERONIA in apple defence against V. mali. In this study, we found that MdMRLK2 was highly induced by V. mali in twigs of V. mali-susceptible Malus mellana but not in those of the resistant species Malus yunnaensis. 35S:MdMRLK2 apple plants showed compromised resistance relative to wild-type (WT) plants. Further analyses indicated that 35S:MdMRLK2 apple plants had enhanced abscisic acid (ABA) levels and reduced salicylic acid (SA) levels relative to the WT on V. mali infection. MdMRLK2 overexpression also suppressed polyphenol accumulation and inhibited the activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), beta-1,3-glucanase (GLU), and chitinase (CHT) during V. mali infection. Moreover, MdMRLK2 interacted with MdHIR1, a hypersensitive-induced response protein, and suppressed the MdHIR1-mediated hypersensitive reaction (HR), probably by impairing MdHIR1 self-interaction. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that overexpression of MdMRLK2 compromises Valsa canker resistance, probably by (a) altering ABA and SA levels, (b) suppressing polyphenol accumulation, (c) inhibiting PAL, GLU, and CHT activities, and (d) blocking MdHIR1-mediated HR by disrupting MdHIR1 self-interaction.Keywords
Funding Information
- National Key Research and Development Program of China (2018YFD1000307)
- National Natural Science Foundation of China (32172529)
- China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2017M610657, 2018T111108)
This publication has 84 references indexed in Scilit:
- Cytology of infection of apple leaves by Diplocarpon maliEuropean Journal of Plant Pathology, 2013
- Hormone Crosstalk in Plant Disease and Defense: More Than Just JASMONATE-SALICYLATE AntagonismAnnual Review of Phytopathology, 2011
- Physical Association of Arabidopsis Hypersensitive Induced Reaction Proteins (HIRs) with the Immune Receptor RPS2Online Journal of Public Health Informatics, 2011
- Dynamic intracellular reorganization of cytoskeletons and the vacuole in defense responses and hypersensitive cell death in plantsJournal of Plant Research, 2011
- Rice Hypersensitive Induced Reaction Protein 1 (OsHIR1) associates with plasma membrane and triggers hypersensitive cell deathBMC Plant Biology, 2010
- PAMP (Pathogen-associated Molecular Pattern)-induced Changes in Plasma Membrane Compartmentalization Reveal Novel Components of Plant ImmunityOnline Journal of Public Health Informatics, 2010
- Functional Analysis of the Arabidopsis PAL Gene Family in Plant Growth, Development, and Response to Environmental StressPlant Physiology, 2010
- Salicylic Acid, a Multifaceted Hormone to Combat DiseaseAnnual Review of Phytopathology, 2009
- Networking by small-molecule hormones in plant immunityNature Chemical Biology, 2009
- ABA Is an Essential Signal for Plant Resistance to Pathogens Affecting JA Biosynthesis and the Activation of Defenses in ArabidopsisTHE PLANT CELL ONLINE, 2007