Abscisic acid deficiency increases defence responses against M yzus persicae in A rabidopsis

• Published in: Molecular plant pathology 2016-02, Vol.17 (2), p.225-235
• Main Authors: Hillwig, Melissa S., Chiozza, Mariana, Casteel, Clare L., Lau, Siau Ting, Hohenstein, Jessica, Hernández, Enrique, Jander, Georg, MacIntosh, Gustavo C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1464-6722; 1364-3703
• DOI: 10.1111/mpp.12274

Comparison of A rabidopsis thaliana ( A rabidopsis) gene expression induced by M yzus persicae (green peach aphid) feeding, aphid saliva infiltration and abscisic acid ( ABA ) treatment showed a significant positive correlation. In particular, ABA ‐regulated genes are over‐represented among genes that are induced by M. persicae saliva infiltration into A rabidopsis leaves. This suggests that the induction of ABA ‐related gene expression could be an important component of the A rabidopsis–aphid interaction. Consistent with this hypothesis, M . persicae populations induced ABA production in wild‐type plants. Furthermore, aphid populations were smaller on A rabidopsis aba1‐1 mutants, which cannot synthesize ABA , and showed a significant preference for wild‐type plants compared with the mutant. Total free amino acids, which play an important role in aphid nutrition, were not altered in the aba1‐1 mutant line, but the levels of isoleucine (Ile) and tryptophan (Trp) were differentially affected by aphids in wild‐type and mutant plants. Recently, indole glucosinolates have been shown to promote aphid resistance in A rabidopsis. In this study, 4‐methoxyindol‐3‐ylmethylglucosinolate was more abundant in the aba1‐1 mutant than in wild‐type A rabidopsis, suggesting that the induction of ABA signals that decrease the accumulation of defence compounds may be beneficial for aphids.