BackgroundPotato virus Y (PVY) is a major pathogen that causes substantial economic losses in worldwide potato production. Different potato cultivars differ in resistance to PVY, from severe susceptibility, through tolerance, to complete resistance. The aim of this study was to better define the mechanisms underlying tolerant responses of potato to infection by the particularly aggressive PVYNTN strain. We focused on the dynamics of the primary metabolism-related processes during PVYNTN infection.ResultsA comprehensive analysis of the dynamic changes in primary metabolism was performed, which included whole transcriptome analysis, nontargeted proteomics, and photosynthetic activity measurements in potato cv. Désirée and its transgenic counterpart depleted for accumulation of salicylic acid (NahG-Désirée). Faster multiplication of virus occurred in the NahG-Désirée, with these plants developing strong disease symptoms. We show that while the dynamics of responses at the transcriptional level are extensive and bimodal, this is only partially translated to the protein level, and to the final functional outcome. Photosynthesis-related genes are transiently induced before viral multiplication is detected and it is down-regulated later on. This is reflected as a deficiency of the photosynthetic apparatus at the onset of viral multiplication only. Interestingly, specific and constant up-regulation of some RuBisCO transcripts was detected in Désirée plants, which might be important, as these proteins have been shown to interact with viral proteins.In SA-deficient and more sensitive NahG-Désirée plants, consistent down-regulation of photosynthesis-related genes was detected. A constant reduction in the photochemical efficiency from the onset of viral multiplication was identified; in nontransgenic plants this decrease was only transient. The transient reduction in net photosynthetic rate occurred in both genotypes with the same timing, and coincided with changes in stomatal conductivity.ConclusionsDown-regulation of photosynthesis-related gene expression and decreased photosynthetic activity is in line with other studies that have reported the effects of biotic stress on photosynthesis. Here, we additionally detected induction of light-reaction components in the early stages of PVYNTN infection of tolerant interaction. As some of these components have already been shown to interact with viral proteins, their overproduction might contribute to the absence of symptoms in cv. Désirée.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-1925-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) is the most important pest of potato in many areas of the world. One of the main reasons for its success lies in the ability of its larvae to counteract plant defense compounds. Larvae adapt to protease inhibitors (PIs) produced in potato leaves through substitution of inhibitor-sensitive digestive cysteine proteases with inhibitor-insensitive cysteine proteases. To get a broader insight into the basis of larval adaptation to plant defenses, we created a "suppression subtractive hybridisation" library using cDNA from the gut of L. decemlineata larvae fed methyl jasmonate-induced or uninduced potato leaves. Four hundred clones, randomly selected from the library, were screened for their relevance to adaptation with DNA microarray hybridizations. Selected enzyme systems of beetle digestion were further inspected for changes in gene expression using quantitative PCR and enzyme activity measurements. We identified two new groups of digestive cysteine proteases, intestains D and intestains E. Intestains D represent a group of structurally distinct digestive cysteine proteases, of which the tested members are strongly upregulated in response to induced plant defenses. Moreover, we found that other digestive enzymes also participate in adaptation, namely, cellulases, serine proteases, and an endopolygalacturonase. In addition, juvenile hormone binding protein-like (JHBP-like) genes were upregulated. All studied genes were expressed specifically in larval guts. In contrast to earlier studies that reported experiments based on PI-enriched artificial diets, our results increase understanding of insect adaptation under natural conditions.

Bois noir (BN) is the most widespread European grapevine yellows disease caused by 'Candidatus Phytoplasma solani'. Although our knowledge of the mechanisms of interactions of this pathogenic bacteria with host is largely unknown, the plant-pathogen system of BN is commonly used as a model system for studying grapevine yellows diseases. We applied here a conceptual model of general plant pathology -a disease triangle for describing interactions among the host plant, the pathogen and the environment. We generated a proofof-concept statistical model for disease triangle using original experimental data and different statistical and data mining approaches for a selected system of 'Ca. P. solani' infection of cv. 'Chardonnay' grapevine plants. We monitored individual plants from a single vineyard over a period of six years. Phytoplasma content, the expression of 21 selected grapevine genes and environmental conditions were recorded and related to disease severity. Our model predicts that in described conditions BN is a function of the expression of grapevine gene VvDMR6, summer rainfall and abundance of 'Ca. P. solani'. The greatest impact among elements of the disease triangle is attributed to the pathogen, and is independent of the pathogen titer. We showed that this first de facto representation of the disease triangle is useful for showing disease dynamics over several years and could be applied to other plant-pathogen systems. The overall results of this study will contribute to understanding of 'Ca. P. solani' biology and its interactions with grapevine host.

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