Ethylene signaling is essential for mycorrhiza-induced resistance against chewing herbivores in tomato

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis can prime plant defenses, leading to mycorrhiza-induced resistance (MIR) against different attackers, including insect herbivores. Still, our knowledge of the complex molecular regulation leading to MIR is very limited. Here, we show that the AM fungus Funnelifo...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Lidoy, Javier, Rivero, Javier, Ramšak, Živa, Petek, Marko, Križnik, Maja, Flors, Victor, López-Ráez, Juan A., Martínez Medina, Ainhoa, Gruden, Kristina, Pozo, Maria J
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión aceptada para publicación
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repositorio:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/381876
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/381876
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Chewing herbivores
Defense priming
Ethylene
Hormonal crosstalk
Jjasmonate
Mycorrhiza-induced resistance (MIR)
Descripción
Sumario:Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis can prime plant defenses, leading to mycorrhiza-induced resistance (MIR) against different attackers, including insect herbivores. Still, our knowledge of the complex molecular regulation leading to MIR is very limited. Here, we show that the AM fungus Funneliformis mosseae protects tomato plants against two different chewing herbivores, Spodoptera exigua and Manduca sexta. We explore the underlying molecular mechanism through genome-wide transcriptional profiling, bioinformatics network analyses, and functional bioassays. Herbivore-triggered JA-regulated defenses were primed in leaves of mycorrhizal plants, while ET biosynthesis and signaling were also higher both before and after herbivory. We hypothesized that fine-tuned ET signaling is required for the primed defensive response leading to MIR. ET is a complex regulator of plant responses to stress and is generally considered a negative regulator of plant defenses against herbivory. However, ET-deficient or insensitive lines did not show AM-primed JA biosynthesis or defense response, and were unable to develop MIR against any of the herbivores. Thus, we demonstrate that hormone crosstalk is central to the priming of plant immunity by beneficial microbes, with ET fine-tuning being essential for the primed JA biosynthesis and boosted defenses leading to MIR in tomato.