Potassium deficiency induces the biosynthesis of oxylipins and glucosinolates in Arabidopsis thaliana

Abstract

BackgroundMineral fertilization and pest control are essential and costly requirements for modern crop production. The two measures go hand in hand because plant mineral status affects plant susceptibility to pests and vice versa. Nutrient deficiency triggers specific responses in plants that optimize nutrient acquisition and reprogram metabolism. K-deficient plants illustrate these strategies by inducing high-affinity K-uptake and adjusting primary metabolism. Whether and how K deficient plants also alter their secondary metabolism for nutrient management and defense is not known.ResultsHere we show that K-deficient plants contain higher levels of the phytohormone jasmonic acid (JA), hydroxy-12-oxo-octadecadienoic acids (HODs) and 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid (OPDA) than K-sufficient plants. Up-regulation of the 13-LOX pathway in response to low K was evident in increased transcript levels of several biosynthetic enzymes. Indole and aliphatic glucosinolates accumulated in response to K-deficiency in a manner that was respectively dependent or independent on signaling through Coronatine-Insensitive 1 (COI1). Transcript and glucosinolate profiles of K-deficient plants resembled those of herbivore attacked plants.ConclusionsBased on our results we propose that under K-deficiency plants produce oxylipins and glucosinolates to enhance their defense potential against herbivorous insects and create reversible storage for excess S and N.

Phosphate Deficiency Induces the Jasmonate Pathway and Enhances Resistance to Insect Herbivory

“…The addition of silicon was shown to trigger priming of the JA-mediated herbivory defense in rice (Ye et al, 2013). Potassium deficiency in Arabidopsis increased the expression of several JA-responsive genes, enhanced the synthesis of several oxylipins in leaves, including JA, and was associated with reduced damage by thrips (Armengaud et al, 2004Troufflard et al, 2010). Sulfur deficiency resulted in an enhanced expression of several genes involved in JA synthesis, and mutation affecting sulfur metabolism influenced basal JA levels (Hirai et al, 2003;Maruyama-Nakashita et al, 2003;Nikiforova et al, 2003;Rodríguez et al, 2010).…”

The Arabidopsis nitrate transporter NPF7.3/NRT1.5 is involved in lateral root development under potassium deprivation

“…15 The K C nutritional status is linked to the ethylene, cytokinin, jasmonic acid and auxin signaling pathways, thus leading to developmental and physiological alterations. [16][17][18] Moreover, it presumably influences plant disease resistance. 19 When grown under limiting K C supply, total root size was reduced in 26 investigated natural Arabidopsis accessions, but the degree of reduction and the root architectural response to K C limitation strongly differed between accessions.…”

Tripartite plant microbe and nutrients interaction in the below ground soil ecosystems

“…The compounds reduce severity of pathogen through disruption of spores and the hyphal contents mainly for the fungal pathogens (Bailey 1789-1791) [2] . Other secondary metabolites that confer resistance against the pathogenic microbes are the volatile organic compound for instance methyl salicylate and methyl jasmonate as they help in limiting conidial germination of the pathogenic fungi (Quintana-Rodriguez et al 250-260; Neri et al [30][31][32][33][34][35] [25,20] . More interactions have shown that some pathogenic microbes have evolved survival mechanisms against the plant defensive compound.…”