Colonization of Solanum melongena and Vitis vinifera Plants by Botrytis cinerea Is Strongly Reduced by the Exogenous Application of Tomato Systemin

Abstract

Plant defense peptides are able to control immune barriers and represent a potential novel resource for crop protection. One of the best-characterized plant peptides is tomato Systemin (Sys) an octadecapeptide synthesized as part of a larger precursor protein. Upon pest attack, Sys interacts with a leucine-rich repeat receptor kinase, systemin receptor SYR, activating a complex intracellular signaling pathway that leads to the wound response. Here, we demonstrated, for the first time, that the direct delivery of the peptide to Solanum melongena and Vitis vinifera plants protects from the agent of Grey mould (Botrytis cinerea). The observed disease tolerance is associated with the increase of total soluble phenolic content, the activation of antioxidant enzymes, and the up-regulation of defense-related genes in plants treated with the peptide. Our results suggest that in treated plants, the biotic defense system is triggered by the Sys signaling pathway as a consequence of Sys interaction with a SYR-like receptor recently found in several plant species, including those under investigation. We propose that this biotechnological use of Sys, promoting defense responses against invaders, represents a useful tool to integrate into pest management programs for the development of novel strategies of crop protection.

Combination of the Systemin peptide with the beneficial fungus Trichoderma afroharzianum T22 improves plant defense responses against pests and diseases

“…One of these is Sys, which acts as a DAMP in tomato plants following insect or mechanical damage by triggering plant immunity (Ryan, 2000; Ryan and Pearce, 2003). Coppola et al (Coppola et al, 2019c) and Molisso et al (Molisso et al, 2021) demonstrated that the exogenous supply of the peptide to intact healthy plants severely counteracted S. littoralis and B. cinerea fungal growth. These results are likely linked to the induction of plants defense-related genes through the accumulation of active compounds.…”

“…Recently, it was demonstrated that exogenous Sys supply induces an array of defense-related responses leading to the final accumulation of proteinase inhibitors (PINs) and other molecules able to interfere with the colonization of fungal pathogens or the growth and survival of herbivores (Coppola et al, 2019c; Molisso et al, 2021). Also, Sys-treated plants proved to be more attractive for pest natural enemies as a consequence of the modified blend of volatile compounds emitted, which is known to be used by predators and parasitoids of phytophagous insects to locate their preys and hosts (Ninkovic et al, 2021).…”

“…Among plants-derived molecules, the tomato peptide Sys has proved to be a very efficient elicitor of plant defense in tomato, grapevine, and eggplant (Coppola et al, 2019c; Molisso et al, 2021). Sys was the first peptide signal to be discovered in plants (Pearce et al, 1991).…”

Not Only Systemin: Prosystemin Harbors Other Active Regions Able to Protect Tomato Plants

“…The antifungal assay was carried out as already reported ( Pastor-Fernández et al, 2020 ; Molisso et al, 2021 ). A sterile 12-well plate was filled with potato dextrose broth (PDB 1/2) medium, containing ProSys fragments at the final concentration of 100 fM.…”

The potential of plant proteins as antifungal agents for agricultural applications

“…Additionally, transgenic plants expressing prosystemin reduce lesions by at least 50% from Phytophthora infestans, a pathogen that causes late blight [ 104 ]. Systemin peptides have been successfully isolated from tomato, sprayed onto grapevine ( Solanum melongena ) and eggplant ( Vitis vinifera ) plants infected with B. cinerea [ 105 ] at a concentration of 100 pM, and efficiently delayed necrosis of the infected plants.…”