Overexpression of MdATG18a in apple improves resistance to Diplocarpon mali infection by enhancing antioxidant activity and salicylic acid levels. Issue 1 (1st November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sun, Xun; Huo, Liuqing; Jia, Xin; Che, Runmin; Gong, Xiaoqing; Wang, Ping; Ma, Fengwang
• Is Part Of: Horticulture research. Volume 5:Issue 1(2018)
• Publication Date: 2018-11-01
• Subjects: Agricultural genetics -- Effectors in plant pathology; Horticulture -- Research -- Periodicals; 635.072
• DOI: 10.1038/s41438-018-0059-5
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2052-7276

Abstract

Abstract: Marssonina apple blotch, caused by Diplocarpon mali, is one of the most serious diseases of apple. Autophagy plays a key role in pathogen resistance. We previously showed that MdATG18a has a positive influence on drought tolerance. Herein, we describe how overexpression (OE) of MdATG18a enhances resistance to D. mali infection, probably because less H2 O2 but more salicylic acid (SA) is accumulated in the leaves of OE apple plants. Expression of chitinase, β-1, 3-glucanase, and SA-related marker genes was induced more strongly by D. mali in OE lines. Transcript levels of other important MdATG genes were also drastically increased by D. mali in OE plants, which indicated increased autophagy activities. Taken together, these results demonstrate that OE of MdATG18a enhances resistance to infection by D. mali and plays positive roles in H2 O2 -scavenging and SA accumulations. Our findings provide important information for designing strategies which could induce autophagy to minimize the impact of this disease on apple production. Improving resistance to apple blotch disease: Apple plants that express high levels of a gene involved in the destruction of damaged and redundant cell components demonstrate improved resistance to a serious fungal infection. Fengwang Ma and colleagues of China's Northwest A&F University in Shaanxi examined the effect of overexpressing the gene MdATG18a on Diplocarpon mali fungal infection in apple plants. This gene was previously found to promote drought tolerance in apple plants and is known for its involvement in autophagy, an immune response to infection that removes damaged cell organelles. The researchers found that plants overexpressing MdATG18a were more resistant to developing Marssonina apple blotch disease compared to wild apple plants, most likely due to improvements in autophagy activity. The team concludes that strategies designed to induce autophagy could improve apple resistance to fungal infection.