Allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) induces stomatal closure in Arabidopsis

• Published in: Plant, cell and environment cell and environment, 2011-11, Vol.34 (11), p.1900-1906
• Main Authors: KHOKON, MD. ATIQUR RAHMAN, JAHAN, MD. SARWAR, RAHMAN, TANIYA, HOSSAIN, MOHAMMAD ANOWAR, MUROYAMA, DAICHI, MINAMI, IKUKO, MUNEMASA, SHINTARO, MORI, IZUMI C., NAKAMURA, YOSHIMASA, MURATA, YOSHIYUKI
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: [Ca2+]cyt oscillation; Abscisic acid; Acetates - pharmacology; Arabidopsis; Arabidopsis - drug effects; Arabidopsis - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Calcium - metabolism; Cyclopentanes - pharmacology; Cytoplasm - drug effects; Cytoplasm - metabolism; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; glutathione; Glutathione - pharmacology; Isothiocyanates - pharmacology; Movement - drug effects; Mutation - genetics; myrosinases; Nitric Oxide - metabolism; Oxylipins - pharmacology; Plant Stomata - cytology; Plant Stomata - drug effects; Plant Stomata - physiology; Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism; ROS
• ISSN: 0140-7791; 1365-3040
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3040.2011.02385.x

ABSTRACT Isothiocyanates (ITCs) are degradation products of glucosinolates in crucifer plants and have repellent effect on insects, pathogens and herbivores. In this study, we report that exogenously applied allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) induced stomatal closure in Arabidopsis via production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO), and elevation of cytosolic Ca2+. AITC‐induced stomatal closures were partially inhibited by an inhibitor of NADPH oxidase and completely inhibited by glutathione monoethyl ester (GSHmee). AITC‐induced stomatal closure and ROS production were examined in abscisic acid (ABA) deficient mutant aba2‐2 and methyl jasmonate (MeJA)‐deficient mutant aos to elucidate involvement of endogenous ABA and MeJA. Genetic evidences have demonstrated that AITC‐induced stomatal closure required MeJA priming but not ABA priming. These results raise the possibility that crucifer plants produce ITCs to induce stomatal closure, leading to suppression of water loss and invasion of fungi through stomata. Isothiocyanates (ITCs) are degradation products of glucosinolates in crucifer plants and have repellent effect on insects and herbivores and ITCs are cytotoxic to both animals and plants at the higher dosage. However, physiological significance of ITCs in plants remains unknown. This study demonstrates that allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) induces stomatal closure in Arabidopsis and that AITC signaling shares some signal components with ABA signaling and MeJA signaling, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) and elevation of cytosolic Ca2+. Moreover, AITC‐induced stomatal closure requires MeJA priming but not ABA priming.