Differential Tissue-Specific Jasmonic Acid, Salicylic Acid, and Abscisic Acid Dynamics in Sweet Cherry Development and Their Implications in Fruit-Microbe Interactions

Abstract

Sweet cherry is an important non-climacteric fruit with a high commercial interest, but exploitation of sweet cherry trees (Prunus avium L.) in orchards is usually subject to important economic losses due to fruit decay by pathogenic fungi and other microorganisms. Sweet cherries development and ripening are characterized by profound physiological changes in the fruit, among which the phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) plays a pivotal role. In addition, sweet cherries are usually affected by fruit decay pathogens, and the role of other stress-related hormones such as jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA) may also be of paramount importance, not only from a developmental point of view, but also from a fruit-microbe interaction perspective. Here, a tissue-specific hormone quantification by LC-MS/MS, including the contents of JA, SA, and ABA, in the fruit exocarp and mesocarp of sweet cherries during fruit development from trees growing in a commercial orchard was carried out. Additionally, this study was complemented with the characterization of the culturable epiphytic and endophytic microbial communities of sweet cherries at various stages of fruit development and during cracking lesion formation. Our results revealed a completely differential behavior of phytohormones between both tissues (the exocarp and mesocarp), with a more dynamic exocarp in front of a more stable mesocarp, and with marked variations during fruit development. Microbial epiphytic community was mainly composed by yeasts, although rot-causing fungi like Alternaria spp. were always also present throughout fruit development. Endophytic colonization was poor, but it increased throughout fruit development. Furthermore, when the exocarp was naturally disrupted in sweet cherries suffering from cracking, the colonization by Alternaria spp. markedly increased. Altogether, results suggest that the fruit exocarp and mesocarp are very dynamic tissues in which endogenous phytohormones not only modulate fruit development and ripening but also fruit-microbe interactions.

Proteção para a cultura de milho contra a seca mediada por bactérias da Caatinga

“…As bactérias oriundas da rizosfera podem sintetizar ácido abscísico (ABA) e incrementam na concentração desse hormônio na planta, isso influencia no aumento da biomassa do sistema radicular. Uma elevada concentração de ABA também pode estimular a formação de pelos radiculares que tem função de aumentar a superfície de contato entre as raízes e o solo, melhorando a absorção de água pela planta (Fresno & munné-Bosch, 2021). O impacto positivo das BPCPs pode ser atribuído também à produção de AIA, que além de contribuir com o crescimento da parte aérea da planta, também influencia de forma positiva a arquitetura da raiz e aumentando a absorção de água e nutrientes do solo.…”

Emerging role of jasmonic acid in woody plant development

“…Moreover, exogenous application of the JA analogy methyl jasmonate (MeJA) enhances the tolerance of fungi and insects in multiple woody plant species, such as Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) (Mageroy et al , 2020), American elms (Ulmus americana Planch) (Sherif et al , 2016), and sweet cherry trees (Prunus avium L.) (Fresno & Munné-Bosch, 2021). It is worth noting that JA and SA always antagonize each other in defence against, whereas woody perennials have evolved JA-SA mediated co-defence systems different from annual herbaceous plants, possibly for coping with more animal and pathogen attacks (Ullah et al, 2022), also implicating more comprehensive JA modulation mechanisms in woody plants need to be investigated.…”

Unravelling the fruit microbiome: The key for developing effective biological control strategies for postharvest diseases

“…For example, the phytohormones abscisic acid, jasmonic acid, and salicylic acid (SA) are reported to influence the tissue physiology (exocarp and mesocarp) of fruits during their development. These hormones can modulate the action and population numbers of endophytic microbial communities in fruit (Fresno & Munné-Bosch, 2021). Endophytic microbes influence fruit physiology and may contribute to increasing the resistance of fruit to infection caused by pathogenic species.…”