Methyl Jasmonate Induces Defense Responses in Grapevine and Triggers Protection against Erysiphe necator

Abstract

Grapevine is subject to a number of diseases that affect yield and wine quality. To limit the excessive use of phytochemicals in the vineyard, alternative strategies have to be developed. Plant treatment with signaling molecules like elicitors stimulates their natural defense mechanisms. To improve grapevine tolerance against fungal pathogens, Vitis vinifera plants were treated with a natural exogenous elicitor, methyl jasmonate (MeJA). MeJA-treated leaves (Cabernet Sauvignon foliar cuttings) reacted by increasing transcript levels coding pathogenesis-related proteins (acidic class IV chitinase, serine protease inhibitor, polygalacturonase-inhibiting protein, and beta-1,3-glucanase) and coding enzymes involved in phytoalexin biosynthesis (one phenylalanine ammonia lyase and one stilbene synthase). This was correlated with the accumulation of stilbenes (antimicrobial compounds). The eliciting activity of MeJA was confirmed by enhanced tolerance of grapevine foliar cuttings and vineyard against powdery mildew (75% and 73%, respectively). On the basis of these original results, MeJA can therefore act as an efficient elicitor in an alternative strategy of grapevine protection.

Review Jasmonates are phytohormones with multiple functions, including plant defense and reproduction

“…Along the same line, MeJA was also shown to promote expression of defense-related genes in grapes (Belhadj et al, 2006). Grapevines attacked by fungal pathogens usually result in reduced production and quality of wine.…”

“…A capability of promoting resistance against pathogen attack was confirmed by increased tolerance towards the fungal pathogen Erysiphe necator (powdery mildew) after treatment with MeJA. Thus, it was demonstrated that treatment with MeJA is an alternative strategy for stimulating natural defense mechanisms in V. vinifera, reducing the need for fungicides against powdery mildew (Belhadj et al, 2006).…”

The R2R3-MYB Transcription Factors MYB14 and MYB15 Regulate Stilbene Biosynthesis in Vitis vinifera

“…Similarly, our results demonstrate that MYB14 and MYB15 are differentially expressed in response to various biotic and abiotic stresses (Figure 2), which mirrors the STS subgroup-specific expression, indicating the specificity of the interaction of the two TFs (MYB14 or MYB15) with certain STS genes. The observed differences in expression patterns of MYB14 and MYB15 also raises the question as to whether their own transcription is regulated by different upstream stress response pathways, such as the jasmonic-acid and ethylene-signaling pathways (Belhadj et al, 2006(Belhadj et al, , 2008a(Belhadj et al, , 2008bVezzulli et al, 2007).…”

Effects of Ultraviolet C Irradiation on Stilbene Biosynthesis in Vitis vinifera L. cv. Cabernet Sauvignon Berry Skins and Calli

“…Pryce, 1977), methyl jasmonate elicitation (Belhadj et al, 2006;Jeandet et al, 2014b) and ozone treatment (Zinser et al, 2000). However, UV-C irradiation is mostly absorbed by the atmosphere and is scarcely received by field-grown plants.…”