Hydrogen peroxide generated by over-expression of cytosolic superoxide dismutase in transgenic plums enhances bacterial canker resistance and modulates plant defence responses

• Published in: Molecular biology reports 2020-08, Vol.47 (8), p.5889-5901
• Main Authors: Faize, Mohamed, Faize, Lydia, Alburquerque, Nuria, Venisse, Jean Stéphane, Burgos, Lorenzo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal Anatomy; Animal Biochemistry; Anthocyanins; Bacteria; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Canker; Cytosol - enzymology; Disease Resistance; Ethylene; Gene expression; Histology; Hydrogen peroxide; Hydrogen Peroxide - metabolism; Life Sciences; Morphology; Original Article; Overexpression; Oxidants - metabolism; Pathogens; Plant Diseases - immunology; Plant Diseases - microbiology; Plants, Genetically Modified; Prunus domestica - genetics; Prunus domestica - immunology; Prunus domestica - metabolism; Prunus domestica - microbiology; Pseudomonas syringae; Superoxide dismutase; Superoxide Dismutase - biosynthesis; Superoxide Dismutase - genetics; Superoxide Dismutase - metabolism; Transgenic plants
• ISSN: 0301-4851; 1573-4978
• DOI: 10.1007/s11033-020-05660-8

H 2 O 2 generated during the oxidative burst, plays important roles in plant defenses responses against pathogens. In this study we examined the role of H 2 O 2 on bacterial canker resistance in transgenic plums over-expressing cytosolic superoxide dismutase. Three transgenic lines (C64, C66 and F12) with elevated levels of H 2 O 2 accumulation showed enhanced resistance against bacterial canker disease caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae , when compared to the non-transformed control. Analysis of the expression of several genes involved in the plant–pathogen interaction showed that the expression of those involved in SA pathway ( pr1 and npr1 ) and JA ( lox3 ) were activated earlier and transiently in transgenic lines C66 and F12 when compared to the wild type. However, the expression of genes involved in anthocyanin synthesis ( chi , chs, f3h , dfr, atcs, myb10 ) and ethylene ( acs ) was induced at very low levels whereas it was activated by the pathogen at exaggerated levels in the non-transformed line. These results suggest that resistance observed in transgenic lines over-producing H 2 O 2 is correlated with an early and transient induction of defense genes associated with the SA and JA pathways and inhibition of gene expression associated with ethylene and anthocyanin biosynthesis.