Expression of two barley proteinase inhibitors in tomato promotes endogenous defensive response and enhances resistance to Tuta absoluta

Abstract

BackgroundPlants and insects have coexisted for million years and evolved a set of interactions which affect both organisms at different levels. Plants have developed various morphological and biochemical adaptations to cope with herbivores attacks. However, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) has become the major pest threatening tomato crops worldwide and without the appropriated management it can cause production losses between 80 to 100%.ResultsThe aim of this study was to investigate the in vivo effect of a serine proteinase inhibitor (BTI-CMe) and a cysteine proteinase inhibitor (Hv-CPI2) from barley on this insect and to examine the effect their expression has on tomato defensive responses. We found that larvae fed on tomato transgenic plants co-expressing both proteinase inhibitors showed a notable reduction in weight. Moreover, only 56% of these larvae reached the adult stage. The emerged adults showed wings deformities and reduced fertility. We also investigated the effect of proteinase inhibitors ingestion on the insect digestive enzymes. Our results showed a decrease in larval trypsin activity. Transgenes expression had no harmful effect on Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) (Heteroptera: Miridae), a predator of Tuta absoluta, despite transgenic tomato plants attracted the mirid. We also found that barley cystatin expression promoted plant defense by inducing the expression of the tomato endogenous wound inducible Proteinase inhibitor 2 (Pin2) gene, increasing the production of glandular trichomes and altering the emission of volatile organic compounds.ConclusionOur results demonstrate the usefulness of the co-expression of different proteinase inhibitors for the enhancement of plant resistance to Tuta absoluta.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12870-018-1240-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Putative Role of a Yet Uncharacterized Protein Elicitor PeBb1 Derived from Beauveria bassiana ARSEF 2860 Strain against Myzus persicae (Homoptera: Aphididae) in Brassica rapa ssp. pekinensis

“…These results are in accordance to some previous works indicating the detrimental effects of exogenous applications of different elicitor molecules such as benzothiadiazole (BTH), JA, and methyl jasmonate (MJ) on the fitness traits and population growth of aphids [34,35]. Nevertheless, some studies have shown how elicitors induce resistance against different sucking and chewing insect pests by the use of co-expression of different proteinase inhibitors [33,36,37]. Likewise, the exogenous treatment of different plant defense related proteins such as polyphenol oxidase and Pathogens 2020, 9, 111 7 of 13 proteinase inhibitors have been shown to significantly reduce the incidence of insect pests on tomato plants [34,38].…”

Assessment of Local and Systemic Changes in Plant Gene Expression and Aphid Responses during Potato Interactions with Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Potato Aphids

“…Interestingly, upregulation of defenses in leaves such as PIs and chitinases has also been reported in ectomycorrhizal poplar (Populus x canescens (Aiton)) damaged by the poplar leaf beetle (Chrysomela populi L.) [56]. It was shown recently that co-expression of the barley serine and cysteine PIs in tomato plants resulted in increased host resistance to the South American tomato pinworm Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) [57]. In this study, gene expression patterns were distinguished by measuring transcript levels in local and systemic leaves, indicating that priming by AM fungal colonization of roots may be more targeted to local tissues attacked by aphids.…”

Tomato Inoculation With the Endophytic Strain Fusarium solani K Results in Reduced Feeding Damage by the Zoophytophagous Predator Nesidiocoris tenuis

“…Nevertheless, relatively little is known about the effects of JA-or SA-mediated plant responses on their performance and behavior. The expression of proteinase inhibitors, known to be induced by wounding, was recently shown not to affect the development and survival of N. tenuis in barley (Hamza et al, 2018). On the other hand, Podisus maculiventris preferred jasmonate-insensitive plants and their survival was higher on these compared to jasmonate-overexpressing plants (Thaler et al, 2015).…”