Subhashree Subramanyam

Reactive Oxygen Species Are Involved in Plant Defense against a Gall Midge

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a major role in plant defense against pathogens, but evidence for their role in defense against insects is still preliminary and inconsistent. In this study, we examined the potential role of ROS in defense of wheat (Triticum aestivum) and rice (Oryza sativa) against Hessian fly (Mayetiola destructor) larvae. Rapid and prolonged accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was detected in wheat plants at the attack site during incompatible interactions. Increased accumulation of both H2O2 and superoxide was detected in rice plants during nonhost interactions with the larvae. No increase in accumulation of either H2O2 or superoxide was observed in wheat plants during compatible interactions. A global analysis revealed changes in the abundances of 250 wheat transcripts and 320 rice transcripts encoding proteins potentially involved in ROS homeostasis. A large number of transcripts encoded class III peroxidases that increased in abundance during both incompatible and nonhost interactions, whereas the levels of these transcripts decreased in susceptible wheat during compatible interactions. The higher levels of class III peroxidase transcripts were associated with elevated enzymatic activity of peroxidases at the attack site in plants during incompatible and nonhost interactions. Overall, our data indicate that class III peroxidases may play a role in ROS generation in resistant wheat and nonhost rice plants during response to Hessian fly attacks.

Functional Characterization of HFR1, a High-Mannose N-Glycan-Specific Wheat Lectin Induced by Hessian Fly Larvae

We previously cloned and characterized a novel jacalin-like lectin gene from wheat (Triticum aestivum) plants that responds to infestation by Hessian fly (Mayetiola destructor) larvae, a major dipteran pest of this crop. The infested resistant plants accumulated higher levels of Hfr-1 (for Hessian fly-responsive gene 1) transcripts compared with uninfested or susceptible plants. Here, we characterize the soluble and active recombinant His6-HFR1 protein isolated from Escherichia coli. Functional characterization of the protein using hemagglutination assays revealed lectin activity. Glycan microarray-binding assays indicated strong affinity of His6-HFR1 to Manα1-6(Manα1-3)Man trisaccharide structures. Resistant wheat plants accumulated high levels of HFR1 at the larval feeding sites, as revealed by immunodetection, but the avirulent larvae were deterred from feeding and consumed only small amounts of the lectin. Behavioral studies revealed that avirulent Hessian fly larvae on resistant plants exhibited prolonged searching and writhing behaviors as they unsuccessfully attempted to establish feeding sites. During His6-HFR1 feeding bioassays, Drosophila melanogaster larvae experienced significant delays in growth and pupation, while percentage mortality increased with progressively higher concentrations of His6-HFR1 in the diet. Thus, HFR1 is an antinutrient to dipteran larvae and may play a significant role in deterring Hessian fly larvae from feeding on resistant wheat plants.

A massive expansion of effector genes underlies gall-formation in the wheat pest Mayetiola destructor.

Gall-forming arthropods are highly specialized herbivores that, in combination with their hosts, produce extended phenotypes with unique morphologies [1]. Many are economically important, and others have improved our understanding of ecology and adaptive radiation [2]. However, the mechanisms that these arthropods use to induce plant galls are poorly understood. We sequenced the genome of the Hessian fly (Mayetiola destructor; Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), a plant parasitic gall midge and a pest of wheat (Triticum spp.), with the aim of identifying genic modifications that contribute to its plant-parasitic lifestyle. Among several adaptive modifications, we discovered an expansive reservoir of potential effector proteins. Nearly 5% of the 20,163 predicted gene models matched putative effector gene transcripts present in the M. destructor larval salivary gland. Another 466 putative effectors were discovered among the genes that have no sequence similarities in other organisms. The largest known arthropod gene family (family SSGP-71) was also discovered within the effector reservoir. SSGP-71 proteins lack sequence homologies to other proteins, but their structures resemble both ubiquitin E3 ligases in plants and E3-ligase-mimicking effectors in plant pathogenic bacteria. SSGP-71 proteins and wheat Skp proteins interact in vivo. Mutations in different SSGP-71 genes avoid the effector-triggered immunity that is directed by the wheat resistance genes H6 and H9. Results point to effectors as the agents responsible for arthropod-induced plant gall formation.

Hfr‐2, a wheat cytolytic toxin‐like gene, is up‐regulated by virulent Hessian fly larval feeding‡

SUMMARY Both yield and grain-quality are dramatically decreased when susceptible wheat (Triticum aestivum) plants are infested by Hessian fly (Mayetiola destructor) larvae. Examination of the changes in wheat gene expression during infestation by virulent Hessian fly larvae has identified the up-regulation of a gene, Hessian fly responsive-2 (Hfr-2), which contains regions similar to genes encoding seed-specific agglutinin proteins from Amaranthus. Hfr-2, however, did not accumulate in developing seeds, as do other wheat seed storage proteins. Additionally, a separate region of the HFR-2 predicted amino acid sequence is similar to haemolytic proteins, from both mushroom and bacteria, that are able to form pores in cell membranes of mammalian red blood cells. The involvement of Hfr-2 in interactions with insects was supported by experiments demonstrating its up-regulation by both fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) and bird cherry-oat aphid (Rhopalosiphum padi) infestations but not by virus infection. Examination of wheat defence response pathways showed Hfr-2 up-regulation following methyl jasmonate treatment and only slight up-regulation in response to salicylic acid, abscisic acid and wounding treatments. Like related proteins, HFR-2 may normally function in defence against certain insects or pathogens. However, we propose that as virulent Hessian fly larvae manipulate the physiology of the susceptible host, the HFR-2 protein inserts in plant cell membranes at the feeding sites and by forming pores provides water, ions and other small nutritive molecules to the developing larvae.

Avirulence effector discovery in a plant galling and plant parasitic arthropod, the Hessian fly (Mayetiola destructor)

Highly specialized obligate plant-parasites exist within several groups of arthropods (insects and mites). Many of these are important pests, but the molecular basis of their parasitism and its evolution are poorly understood. One hypothesis is that plant parasitic arthropods use effector proteins to defeat basal plant immunity and modulate plant growth. Because avirulence (Avr) gene discovery is a reliable method of effector identification, we tested this hypothesis using high-resolution molecular genetic mapping of an Avr gene (vH13) in the Hessian fly (HF, Mayetiola destructor), an important gall midge pest of wheat (Triticum spp.). Chromosome walking resolved the position of vH13, and revealed alleles that determine whether HF larvae are virulent (survive) or avirulent (die) on wheat seedlings carrying the wheat H13 resistance gene. Association mapping found three independent insertions in vH13 that appear to be responsible for H13-virulence in field populations. We observed vH13 transcription in H13-avirulent larvae and the salivary glands of H13-avirulent larvae, but not in H13-virulent larvae. RNA-interference-knockdown of vH13 transcripts allowed some H13-avirulent larvae to escape H13-directed resistance. vH13 is the first Avr gene identified in an arthropod. It encodes a small modular protein with no sequence similarities to other proteins in GenBank. These data clearly support the hypothesis that an effector-based strategy has evolved in multiple lineages of plant parasites, including arthropods.

Modulation of defense-response gene expression in wheat during Hessian fly larval feeding

Abstract Expression profiles of ten genes commonly up-regulated during plant defense against microbial pathogens were compared temporally during compatible and incompatible interactions with first-instar Hessian fly larvae, in two wheat lines carrying different resistance genes. Quantitative real-time PCR revealed that while a lipoxygenase gene (WCI-2) was strongly up-regulated during the incompatible interactions, genes encoding β-1,3 endoglucanase (GNS) and an integral membrane protein (WIR1) were moderately responsive. Genes for thionin-like protein (WCI-3), PR-17-like protein (WCI-5), MAP kinase (WCK-1), phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), pathogenesis-related protein-1 (PR-1), receptor-like kinase (LRK10) and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) were minimally responsive. The application of signaling molecules, salicylic acid (SA), methyl jasmonate (MJ) and abscisic acid (ABA), to insect-free plants demonstrated association of these genes with specific defense-response pathways. SA-induced up-regulation of a gene related to lipoxygenases that are involved in jasmonic acid (JA)-biosynthesis is suggestive of positive cross-talk between SA- and JA-mediated signaling pathways. Data suggest that alternative mechanisms may be involved since few of these classical defense-response genes are significantly up-regulated during incompatible interactions between wheat and Hessian fly.

Induced epidermal permeability modulates resistance and susceptibility of wheat seedlings to herbivory by Hessian fly larvae

Salivary secretions of neonate Hessian fly larvae initiate a two-way exchange of molecules with their wheat host. Changes in properties of the leaf surface allow larval effectors to enter the plant where they trigger plant processes leading to resistance and delivery of defence molecules, or susceptibility and delivery of nutrients. To increase understanding of the host plants response, the timing and characteristics of the induced epidermal permeability were investigated. Resistant plant permeability was transient and limited in area, persisting just long enough to deliver defence molecules before gene expression and permeability reverted to pre-infestation levels. The abundance of transcripts for GDSL-motif lipase/hydrolase, thought to contribute to cuticle reorganization and increased permeability, followed the same temporal profile as permeability in resistant plants. In contrast, susceptible plants continued to increase in permeability over time until the entire crown of the plant became a nutrient sink. Permeability increased with higher infestation levels in susceptible but not in resistant plants. The ramifications of induced plant permeability on Hessian fly populations are discussed.

Protein extraction/solubilization protocol for monocot and dicot plant gel-based proteomics

Sample preparation in plant proteomics is tedious, requiring modifications depending on the type of tissue involved. Here, we describe a protein extraction protocol for both monocotyledonous (monocot) and dicotyledonous (dicot) species, which significantly improves the solubilization of total proteins. For example, we used the primary leaf tissue and seeds from rice, a cereal crop and genome model system. Total protein was first precipitated with trichloroacetic acid/acetone extraction buffer (TCAAEB) and subsequently solubilized with a modified O’Farrell lysis buffer (LB) containing thiourea and tris (LB-TT). Separation of total leaf proteins by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DGE) revealed improved solubilization, as determined by an increased number of spots detected with Coomassie brilliant blue (CBB) staining. In addition, the resolution was better than when LB-TT was used alone for protein extraction. Seed proteins could be extracted in LB-TT itself without the need for TCAAEB, which resulted in a highly insoluble precipitate. Our CBB-stained 2-D gel protein profiles also demonstrated the efficacy of this protocol for total protein extraction/solubilization from the dicot genome model (Arabidopsis), a dicot disease model (cucumber), and two other important monocot cereal crop models (maize and wheat). Moreover, this is the first report on generating a 2-D gel proteome profile for wheat crown and cucumber leaf tissues. Finally, as examples of proteome reference maps, we obtained silver nitrate-stained, large-format 2-D gels for rice leaf and wheat crown LB-TT solubilized proteins.

Ultrastructural changes in the midguts of Hessian fly larvae feeding on resistant wheat

The focus of the present study was to compare ultrastructure in the midguts of larvae of the Hessian fly, Mayetiola destructor (Say), under different feeding regimens. Larvae were either fed on Hessian fly-resistant or -susceptible wheat, and each group was compared to starved larvae. Within 3h of larval Hessian fly feeding on resistant wheat, midgut microvilli were disrupted, and after 6h, microvilli were absent. The disruption in microvilli in larvae feeding on resistant wheat were similar to those reported for midgut microvilli of European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilasis (Hubner), larvae fed a diet containing wheat germ agglutinin. Results from the present ultrastructural study, coupled with previous studies documenting expression of genes encoding lectin and lectin-like proteins is rapidly up-regulated in resistant wheat to larval Hessian fly, are indications that the midgut is a target of plant resistance compounds. In addition, the midgut of the larval Hessian fly is apparently unique among other dipterans in that no peritrophic membrane was observed. Ultrastructural changes in the midgut are discussed from the prospective of their potential affects on the gut physiology of Hessian fly larvae and the mechanism of antibiosis in the resistance of wheat to Hessian fly attack.

Hessian fly larval feeding triggers enhanced polyamine levels in susceptible but not resistant wheat

BackgroundHessian fly (Mayetiola destructor), a member of the gall midge family, is one of the most destructive pests of wheat (Triticum aestivum) worldwide. Probing of wheat plants by the larvae results in either an incompatible (avirulent larvae, resistant plant) or a compatible (virulent larvae, susceptible plant) interaction. Virulent larvae induce the formation of a nutritive tissue, resembling the inside surface of a gall, in susceptible wheat. These nutritive cells are a rich source of proteins and sugars that sustain the developing virulent Hessian fly larvae. In addition, on susceptible wheat, larvae trigger a significant increase in levels of amino acids including proline and glutamic acid, which are precursors for the biosynthesis of ornithine and arginine that in turn enter the pathway for polyamine biosynthesis.ResultsFollowing Hessian fly larval attack, transcript abundance in susceptible wheat increased for several genes involved in polyamine biosynthesis, leading to higher levels of the free polyamines, putrescine, spermidine and spermine. A concurrent increase in polyamine levels occurred in the virulent larvae despite a decrease in abundance of Mdes-odc (ornithine decarboxylase) transcript encoding a key enzyme in insect putrescine biosynthesis. In contrast, resistant wheat and avirulent Hessian fly larvae did not exhibit significant changes in transcript abundance of genes involved in polyamine biosynthesis or in free polyamine levels.ConclusionsThe major findings from this study are: (i) although polyamines contribute to defense in some plant-pathogen interactions, their production is induced in susceptible wheat during interactions with Hessian fly larvae without contributing to defense, and (ii) due to low abundance of transcripts encoding the rate-limiting ornithine decarboxylase enzyme in the larval polyamine pathway the source of polyamines found in virulent larvae is plausibly wheat-derived. The activation of the host polyamine biosynthesis pathway during compatible wheat-Hessian fly interactions is consistent with a model wherein the virulent larvae usurp the polyamine biosynthesis machinery of the susceptible plant to acquire nutrients required for their own growth and development.