Differential Timing of Spider Mite-Induced Direct and Indirect Defenses in Tomato Plants

Abstract

Through a combined metabolomics and transcriptomics approach we analyzed the events that took place during the first 5 d of infesting intact tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) plants with spider mites (Tetranychus urticae). Although the spider mites had caused little visible damage to the leaves after 1 d, they had already induced direct defense responses. For example, proteinase inhibitor activity had doubled and the transcription of genes involved in jasmonate-, salicylate-, and ethylene-regulated defenses had been activated. On day four, proteinase inhibitor activity and particularly transcript levels of salicylate-regulated genes were still maintained. In addition, genes involved in phospholipid metabolism were up-regulated on day one and those in the secondary metabolism on day four. Although transcriptional up-regulation of the enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of monoterpenes and diterpenes already occurred on day one, a significant increase in the emission of volatile terpenoids was delayed until day four. This increase in volatile production coincided with the increased olfactory preference of predatory mites (Phytoseiulus persimilis) for infested plants. Our results indicate that tomato activates its indirect defenses (volatile production) to complement the direct defense response against spider mites.

Induction of a leaf specific geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthase and emission of (E,E)-4,8,12-trimethyltrideca-1,3,7,11-tetraene in tomato are dependent on both jasmonic acid and salicylic acid signaling pathways

“…4b). Induction of LeGGPS1 by spider mite-herbivory conWrms the microarray results from Kant et al (2004). Treatment of intact plants with JA induced the expression of LeGGPS1 (Fig.…”

“…Thus we have identiWed two novel regulatory steps in the biosynthesis of TMTT in tomato. Kant et al (2004) have previously shown that DOXPS, the limiting step in plastidial IPP and DMAPP biosynthesis (Botella-Pavia et al 2004), was upregulated in tomato by spider mite-feeding ). This brings on the question why there are multiple steps in the biosynthesis of TMTT that are regulated.…”

“…Castlemart, def-1 (Howe and Ryan 1999), cv. Moneymaker (obtained from the Glasshouse Crop Research Institute (GCRI), now Horticultural Research Institute (HRI), UK) and NahG (Brading et al 2000)] were grown as described by Kant et al (2004). The two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch) was originally obtained in 1993 from tomato plants in a greenhouse (Houten, The Netherlands; Gotoh et al 1993) and was maintained on the cultivar Moneymaker ever since.…”

“…In cytosolic IPP synthesis, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase is upregulated in response to pathogens or pathogenderived elicitors in solanaceous plants like tomato (Park et al 1992), Korean red pepper (Capsicum annuum) and potato (Solanum tuberosum) (Choi et al 1992), but also by insect herbivores in potato (Korth et al 1997) and Nicotiana attenuata (Hui et al 2003). Furthermore, Kant et al (2004) have shown that transcription of deoxy-xylulose-5-phosphate synthase, involved in plastidial IPP synthesis, is upregulated in tomato upon spider mite-infestation. Downstream, at the level of prenyltransferases that precede the action of terpene synthases, little is known about regulation of gene expression.…”

Can plants betray the presence of multiple herbivore species to predators and parasitoids? The role of learning in phytochemical information networks

“…Paré et al 1999;Bouwmeester et al 1999); (4) blends of HIPV not only emanate from the leaf under attack by the herbivore, but are also systemically induced in the plant (Turlings and Tumlinson 1992;Dicke 1994;Guerrieri et al 1999); (5) application of jasmonic acid (JA), a phytohormone, to wild-type plants or defence-signalling mutants leads to production of volatiles similar to HIPV (Hopke et al 1994;Ozawa et al 2000;Gols et al 2003;Thaler et al 2002;Van Poecke and Dicke 2003;Ament et al 2004); (6) herbivore-induced gene expression patterns in plants are similar to those mediated by jasmonates (e.g. Kant et al 2004;Ament et al 2004;Mercke et al 2004;Reymond et al 2004); (7) elicitors of HIPV synthesis in the plant have been found in the regurgitate/saliva of herbivores [N-(17-hydroxylinolenoyl)-L-glutamine or volicitin: Alborn et al 1997Alborn et al , 2000β-glucosidase: Hopke et al 1994;Mattiacci et al 1995]s.…”