| Title: | Accumulation of terpenoid phytoalexins in maize roots is associated with drought tolerance |
| Author(s): | Vaughan MM; Christensen S; Schmelz EA; Huffaker A; McAuslane HJ; Alborn HT; Romero M; Allen LH; Teal PE; |
| Address: | "Bacterial Foodborne Pathogens and Mycology, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Peoria, IL, 61604, USA. Chemistry Research Unit, Center of Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Gainesville, FL, 32608, USA. Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA" |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1365-3040 (Electronic) 0140-7791 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Maize (Zea mays) production, which is of global agro-economic importance, is largely limited by herbivore pests, pathogens and environmental conditions, such as drought. Zealexins and kauralexins belong to two recently identified families of acidic terpenoid phytoalexins in maize that mediate defence against both pathogen and insect attacks in aboveground tissues. However, little is known about their function in belowground organs and their potential to counter abiotic stress. In this study, we show that zealexins and kauralexins accumulate in roots in response to both biotic and abiotic stress including, Diabrotica balteata herbivory, Fusarium verticillioides infection, drought and high salinity. We find that the quantity of drought-induced phytoalexins is positively correlated with the root-to-shoot ratio of different maize varieties, and further demonstrate that mutant an2 plants deficient in kauralexin production are more sensitive to drought. The induction of phytoalexins in response to drought is root specific and does not influence phytoalexin levels aboveground; however, the accumulation of phytoalexins in one tissue may influence the induction capacity of other tissues" |
| Keywords: | "Abscisic Acid/pharmacology Adaptation, Physiological Biosynthetic Pathways *Droughts Herbivory Plant Diseases/microbiology Plant Growth Regulators/pharmacology Plant Proteins/genetics Plant Roots/drug effects/microbiology/physiology Signal Transduction *S;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineVaughan, Martha M Christensen, Shawn Schmelz, Eric A Huffaker, Alisa McAuslane, Heather J Alborn, Hans T Romero, Maritza Allen, Leon Hartwell Teal, Peter E A eng 2014/11/14 Plant Cell Environ. 2015 Nov; 38(11):2195-207. doi: 10.1111/pce.12482. Epub 2015 Jan 23" |
