Houbin Chen

Hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide promote reproductive growth in Litchi chinensis

Vegetative growth and reproductive growth strongly competes with each other during panicle development in litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.). We herein investigated the roles of hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide in the competition between growth of rudimentary leaves and panicle development. The results show that the chilling-induced flowering increased H2O2 and NO contents in the mixed buds. Treatments with sodium nitroprusside (SNP), the NO donor, and methyl viologen dichloride hydrate (MV), the superoxide generator, increased NO and H2O2 contents in the mixed buds. MV and SNP treatments promoted abscission of rudimentary leaves and encouraged panicle development before or at the stage of panicle emergence. The nitric oxide synthase inhibitor Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) and the H2O2 trapper dimethylthiourea (DMTU) inhibited a chilling-induced flowering. SNP promoted the expression of litchi LEAFY homolog (LcLFY). These promotive effects were suppressed by the NO scavenger, 2-phenyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl3-oxide (PTIO) and the H2O2 trapper, DMTU. The results suggest that H2O2 and NO promote reproductive growth by inhibiting the growth of rudimentary leaves as well as by promoting the expression of the flower related gene, LcLFY.

Wound-induced pectin methylesterases enhance banana (Musa spp. AAA) susceptibility to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense

Recent studies suggest that plant pectin methylesterases (PMEs) are directly involved in plant defence besides their roles in plant development. However, the molecular mechanisms of PME action on pectins are not well understood. In order to understand how PMEs modify pectins during banana (Musa spp.)–Fusarium interaction, the expression and enzyme activities of PMEs in two banana cultivars, highly resistant or susceptible to Fusarium, were compared with each other. Furthermore, the spatial distribution of PMEs and their effect on pectin methylesterification of 10 individual homogalacturonan (HG) epitopes with different degrees of methylesterification (DMs) were also examined. The results showed that, before pathogen treatment, the resistant cultivar displayed higher PME activity than the susceptible cultivar, corresponding well to the lower level of pectin DM. A significant increase in PME expression and activity and a decrease in pectin DM were observed in the susceptible cultivar but not in the resistant cultivar when plants were wounded, which was necessary for successful infection. With the increase of PME in the wounded susceptible cultivar, the JIM5 antigen (low methyestrified HGs) increased. Forty-eight hours after pathogen infection, the PME activity and expression in the susceptible cultivar were higher than those in the resistant cultivar, while the DM was lower. In conclusion, the resistant and the susceptible cultivars differ significantly in their response to wounding. Increased PMEs and thereafter decreased DMs acompanied by increased low methylesterified HGs in the root vascular cylinder appear to play a key role in determination of banana susceptibility to Fusarium.

Expression and distribution of extensins and AGPs in susceptible and resistant banana cultivars in response to wounding and Fusarium oxysporum

Banana Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) is soil-borne disease of banana (Musa spp.) causing significant economic losses. Extensins and arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) are cell wall components important for pathogen defence. Their significance for Foc resistance in banana was not reported so far. In this study, two banana cultivars differing in Foc sensitivity were used to monitor the changes in transcript levels, abundance and distribution of extensins and AGPs after wounding and Foc inoculation. Extensins mainly appeared in the root cap and meristematic cells. AGPs recognized by JIM13, JIM8, PN16.4B4 and CCRC-M134 antibodies located in root hairs, xylem and root cap. Individual AGPs and extensins showed specific radial distribution in banana roots. At the transcript level, seven extensins and 23 AGPs were differentially expressed between two banana cultivars before and after treatments. Two extensins and five AGPs responded to the treatments at the protein level. Most extensins and AGPs were up-regulated by wounding and pathogen inoculation of intact plants but down-regulated by pathogen attack of wounded plants. Main components responsible for the resistance of banana were MaELP-2 and MaPELP-2. Our data revealed that AGPs and extensins represent dynamic cell wall components involved in wounding and Foc resistance.

Methyl-inositol, γ-aminobutyric acid and other health benefit compounds in the aril of litchi

Abstract The available components in the flesh of litchi seem insufficient to interpret its wide and significant physiological effects. Some unusual compounds, including myo-inositol, inositol methyl derivatives and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) were identified as main constituents in the flesh of litchi. Their concentrations varied among cultivars but remain relatively constant during development. Litchi flesh was shown to contain moderate myo-inositol (0.28–0.78 mg g−1 FW), ascorbic acid (0.08–0.39 mg g−1 FW) and phenolics (0.47–1.60 mg g−1 FW), but abundant l-quebrachitol (1.6–6.4 mg g−1 FW) and GABA (1.7–3.5 mg g−1 FW). The concentration of GABA in the flesh of litchi was about 100 times higher than in other fruits. And l-quebrachitol is not a common component in fruits. The biological and physiological activities of inositols, inositol derivatives and GABA have been extensively documented. These compounds are probably important compositional characteristic contributing to the widely shown health benefits of litchi.

Variable content and distribution of arabinogalactan proteins in banana (Musa spp.) under low temperature stress

Information on the spatial distribution of arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) in plant organs and tissues during plant reactions to low temperature (LT) is limited. In this study, the extracellular distribution of AGPs in banana leaves and roots, and their changes under LT stress were investigated in two genotypes differing in chilling tolerance, by immuno-techniques using 17 monoclonal antibodies against different AGP epitopes. Changes in total classical AGPs in banana leaves were also tested. The results showed that AGP epitopes recognized by JIM4, JIM14, JIM16, and CCRC-M32 antibodies were primarily distributed in leaf veins, while those recognized by JIM8, JIM13, JIM15, and PN16.4B4 antibodies exhibited predominant sclerenchymal localization. Epitopes recognized by LM2, LM14, and MAC207 antibodies were distributed in both epidermal and mesophyll cells. Both genotypes accumulated classical AGPs in leaves under LT treatment, and the chilling tolerant genotype contained higher classical AGPs at each temperature treatment. The abundance of JIM4 and JIM16 epitopes in the chilling-sensitive genotype decreased slightly after LT treatment, and this trend was opposite for the tolerant one. LT induced accumulation of LM2- and LM14-immunoreactive AGPs in the tolerant genotype compared to the sensitive one, especially in phloem and mesophyll cells. These epitopes thus might play important roles in banana LT tolerance. Different AGP components also showed differential distribution patterns in banana roots. In general, banana roots started to accumulate AGPs under LT treatment earlier than leaves. The levels of AGPs recognized by MAC207 and JIM13 antibodies in the control roots of the tolerant genotype were higher than in the chilling sensitive one. Furthermore, the chilling tolerant genotype showed high immuno-reactivity against JIM13 antibody. These results indicate that several AGPs are likely involved in banana tolerance to chilling injury.

Comparative Digital Gene Expression Analysis of Tissue-Cultured Plantlets of Highly Resistant and Susceptible Banana Cultivars in Response to Fusarium oxysporum

Banana Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) is one of the most destructive soil-borne diseases. In this study, young tissue-cultured plantlets of banana (Musa spp. AAA) cultivars differing in Foc susceptibility were used to reveal their differential responses to this pathogen using digital gene expression (DGE). Data were evaluated by various bioinformatic tools (Venn diagrams, gene ontology (GO) annotation and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses) and immunofluorescence labelling method to support the identification of gene candidates determining the resistance of banana against Foc. Interestingly, we have identified MaWRKY50 as an important gene involved in both constitutive and induced resistance. We also identified new genes involved in the resistance of banana to Foc, including several other transcription factors (TFs), pathogenesis-related (PR) genes and some genes related to the plant cell wall biosynthesis or degradation (e.g., pectinesterases, β-glucosidases, xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolase and endoglucanase). The resistant banana cultivar shows activation of PR-3 and PR-4 genes as well as formation of different constitutive cell barriers to restrict spreading of the pathogen. These data suggest new mechanisms of banana resistance to Foc.

LcMCII-1 is involved in the ROS-dependent senescence of the rudimentary leaves of Litchi chinensis

Key messageLcMCII-1is a type II metacaspase. Over-expression ofLcMCII-1inArabidopsispromoted ROS-dependent and natural senescence. Virus-inducedLcMCII-1silencing delayed the ROS-dependent senescence of the rudimentary leaves ofLitchi chinensis.AbstractLitchi is an evergreen woody fruit tree that is widely cultivated in subtropical and tropical regions. Its floral buds are mixed with axillary or apical panicle primordia, leaf primordia and rudimentary leaves. A low spring temperature is vital for litchi production as it promotes the abscission of the rudimentary leaves, which could otherwise prevent panicle development. Hence, climate change could present additional challenges for litchi production. We previously reported that reactive oxygen species (ROS) can substitute low-temperature treatment to induce the senescence of rudimentary leaves. We have now identified from RNA-Seq data a litchi type II metacaspase gene, LcMCII-1, that is responsive to ROS. Silencing LcMCII-1 by virus-induced gene silencing delayed ROS-dependent senescence. The ectopic over-expression of LcMCII-1 in transgenic Arabidopsis promoted ROS-dependent and natural senescence. Consistently, the transient expression of LcMCII-1 in tobacco leaf by agroinfiltration resulted in leaf yellowing. Our findings demonstrate that LcMCII-1 is positively involved in the regulation of rudimentary leaf senescence in litchi and provide a new target for the future molecular breeding of new cultivars that can set fruit in warmer climates.

Reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide induce senescence of rudimentary leaves and the expression profiles of the related genes in Litchi chinensis

Litchi is one of the most important subtropical evergreen fruit trees in southern Asia. Previous studies indicated that high-temperature conditions encourage growth of rudimentary leaves in panicles and suppress flowering. We have demonstrated that methyl viologen dichloride hydrate (MV) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) promoted flowering in litchi partially by inhibiting the growth of rudimentary leaves via reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO). In the present study, we examined the microstructure and ultrastructure, programmed cell death (PCD) ratio, nuclei morphology of the rudimentary leaves, and the expression of senescence-related genes after the treatment with ROS or NO. The results showed that chromatins of the ROS- or NO-treated cells in the rudimentary leaves were condensed. Fusion of the cytoplasm-digesting vesicles with the vacuole and degradation of cytoplasm forming scattered debris were found in those of the treated cells. Treatment with ROS or NO increased the cell PCD ratio. Morphology of the nuclei stained by propidium iodide (PI) showed that nuclei shape became irregular after the ROS or NO treatment. Further, the expression levels of LcRboh, LcMC-1-like, and LcPirin were higher in the ROS- and NO-treated rudimentary leaves than those in the control ones, suggesting that these genes may be involved in the ROS and NO-induced senescence and abscission of the rudimentary leaves in litchi. Our results suggested that ROS and NO play an important role in inducing the senescence of the rudimentary leaves, and ROS- and NO-induced PCD may be involved in the regulation of the rudimentary leaf growth in litchi.Climate change: tricking the treesWarmer winter temperatures suppress flowering of litchi trees, threatening fruit production, but researchers have found another way to trigger litchi trees to reproduce. In litchi, spring buds contain both flower and leaf primordia, and cold cues the plants to shed the young leaves, allowing the flower primordia to develop. With recent warmer winters, the leaves are crowding out the flowers. Biyan Zhou at South China Agricultural University investigated whether spraying with compounds that make the trees produce stress-signaling molecules, such as nitrous oxide, would mimic the effects of a cold winter. Following treatment, the trees shed their rudimentary leaves and flowers developed. Microscopic examination of buds showed that the leaf shedding process looked similar to cold-triggered shedding. This study offers a method to induce litchis to flower and fruit, even in a changing climate.