Methyl jasmonate induces the resistance of postharvest blueberry to gray mold caused by Botrytis cinerea

Abstract

BACKGROUNDThe effects of postharvest methyl jasmonate (MeJA) treatment (50 μmol L–1) on the control of gray mold caused by Botrytis cinerea in blueberry fruit were evaluated by analyzing (i) the levels of disease resistance signals; (ii) the activity of enzymes involved in antioxidant system, disease resistance and phenylpropanoid pathway, and (iii) the secondary metabolite content.RESULTSThe results indicated that MeJA treatment significantly restrained the development of gray mold decay in blueberries. The treatment induced a nitric oxide (NO) burst and increased the endogenous hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content in the earlier period of storage. The enhanced NO and H2O2 generation by MeJA treatment might serve as a signal to induce resistance against B. cinerea infection. Furthermore, in inoculated fruit, MeJA treatment significantly promoted antioxidant enzymes and defense‐related enzyme activity, which included superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, chitinase, and β‐1,3‐glucanase, and the degree of membrane lipid peroxidation was reduced. The MeJA treatment enhanced the phenylpropanoid pathway by provoking phenylalanine ammonialyase, cinnamate 4‐hydroxylase, and 4‐coumarate CoA ligase activity, which was accompanied by elevated levels of phenolics and flavonoids in blueberry fruit.CONCLUSIONThese results suggested that MeJA could induce the disease resistance of blueberries against B. cinerea by regulating the antioxidant enzymes, defense‐related enzymes, and the phenylpropanoid pathway through the activation of signaling molecules.

The Jasmonic Acid Signaling Pathway is Associated with Terpinen-4-ol-Induced Disease Resistance against Botrytis cinerea in Strawberry Fruit

“…Many secondary metabolites with antifungal effects such as phenolics, flavonoids, lignin, and terpenoids are also produced by the exogenous treatment with JA or as the result of increased levels of JA in plants and harvested fruit after pathogen attack. 46 For example, MeJA increases the gene expression and the activity of enzymes involved in phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis, which promotes the production of phenolics, flavonoids, and lignin in blueberry 47 and tomato fruit 39 and reduces disease progression. Our transcriptomics data also show that the terpinen-4-ol treatment induces the expression of genes involved in secondary metabolic pathways, including 4CL, CCR, UGT, UFGT, POD, and PPO.…”

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

“…Our results demonstrate the increase of both phenolic content and the antioxidative activity of CAT and APX enzymes likely determined by the activation of the JA pathways triggered by Sys treatment. In our experimental conditions, the increased level of TPC likely contributed to the observed reduction of damages on Sys treated leaves [84,88].…”

“…As they are toxic to pathogens, their accumulation at the infection site can restrict pathogen development and the successive plant colonization or contrast infections by increasing the mechanical strength of the host cell wall [83]. Jasmonates (JAs), or their derivates, enhance the accumulation of phenolic compounds in different plant species contributing to the resistance against B. cinerea [84,85] and have a pivotal role in the reduction of H 2 O 2 level by the enhancement of antioxidant enzymes activity in plant cells [86,87]. Sys-treated plants likely increase the JAs production that may modulate the activity of CAT and APX antioxidant enzymes in both plant species.…”

Using Transcriptome Analysis to Explore Gray Mold Resistance-Related Genes in Onion (Alliumcepa L.)

“…Signaling molecules, such as JAs, induce the expression of a series of genes under environmental stress, including pathogen infections [ 37 , 38 ]. JAs are known to be involved in resistance to infections by necrotrophic pathogens, especially Botrytis species [ 39 , 40 ].…”