Virus-Infected Melon Plants Emit Volatiles that Induce Gene Deregulation in Neighboring Healthy Plants

Abstract

It is well described that viral infections stimulate the emission of plant volatiles able to recruit viral vectors thereby promoting virus spread. In contrast, much less is known on the effects that emitted volatiles may have on the metabolism of healthy neighboring plants, which are potential targets for new infections through vector transmission. Watermelon mosaic virus (WMV) (genus Potyvirus, family Potyviridae) is an aphid-transmitted virus endemic in cucurbit crops worldwide. We have compared gene expression profiles of WMV infected melon plants with those of healthy or healthy-but-cohabited-with-infected plants. Pathogenesis-related (PR) and small heat shock protein encoding genes were deregulated in cohabited plants, and PR deregulation depended on the distance to the infected plant. The signaling was short distance in the experimental conditions used, and cohabiting had a moderate effect on the plant susceptibility to WMV. Static headspace experiments showed that benzaldehyde and γ-butyrolactone were significantly over-emitted by WMV-infected plants. Altogether, our data suggests that perception of a volatile signal encoded by WMV-infected tissues triggers a response to prepare healthy tissues or/and healthy neighboring plants for the incoming infections.

Identification and characterization of TMV-induced volatile signals in Nicotiana benthamiana: evidence for JA/ET defense pathway priming in congeneric neighbors via airborne (E)-2-octenal

“…2 ). This phenomenon is consistent with previous studies (Bennett 2021 ; Brosset and Blande 2022 ; López-Berenguer et al 2021 ) and again demonstrates that there is indeed “communication” between plants.…”

The Past Is Present: Coevolution of Viruses and Host Resistance Within Geographic Centers of Plant Diversity

“…For systemic hosts, cross-protection may be an example of the benefits and trade-offs of an infection-a mild outcome to protect from a more virulent strain. By extension, systemic acquired resistance and mild (or masked) strains may ward off insect feeding or infections of other microbial pathogens-by chemical or other signaling-and benefit the host plant (22,28,69).…”