| Title: | The occurrence and formation of monoterpenes in herbivore-damaged poplar roots |
| Author(s): | Lackus ND; Lackner S; Gershenzon J; Unsicker SB; Kollner TG; |
| Address: | "Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Department of Biochemistry, Hans-Knoll-Strasse 8, 07745, Jena, Germany. Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Department of Biochemistry, Hans-Knoll-Strasse 8, 07745, Jena, Germany. koellner@ice.mpg.de" |
| DOI: | 10.1038/s41598-018-36302-6 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 2045-2322 (Electronic) 2045-2322 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Volatiles are often released upon herbivory as plant defense compounds. While the formation of volatiles above-ground has been intensively studied, little is known about herbivore-induced root volatiles. Here, we show that cockchafer larvae-damaged roots of Populus trichocarpa and P. nigra release a mixture of monoterpenes, including (-)-alpha-pinene, (-)-camphene, (-)-beta-pinene, p-cymene, and 1,8-cineole. Three terpene synthases, PtTPS16 and PtTPS21 from P. trichocarpa and PnTPS4 from P. nigra, could be identified and characterized in vitro. PnTPS4 was found to produce 1,8-cineole as sole product. PtTPS16 and PtTPS21, although highly similar to each other, showed different product specificities and produced gamma-terpinene and a mixture of (-)-camphene, (-)-alpha-pinene, (-)-beta-pinene, and (-)-limonene, respectively. Four active site residues were found to determine the different product specificities of the two enzymes. The expression profiles of PtTPS16, PtTPS21, and PnTPS4 in undamaged and herbivore-damaged poplar roots generally matched the emission pattern of monoterpenes, indicating that monoterpene emission in roots is mainly determined at the gene transcript level. Bioassays with Phytophtora cactorum (Oomycetes) revealed inhibitory effects of vapor-phase 1,8-cineole and (-)-beta-pinene on the growth of this important plant pathogen. Thus herbivore-induced volatile monoterpenes may have a role in defense against pathogens that cause secondary infections after root wounding" |
| Keywords: | "Alkyl and Aryl Transferases/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism Animals Catalytic Domain Coleoptera/*pathogenicity Gene Expression Regulation, Plant Herbivory Monoterpenes/*analysis/pharmacology Phytophthora/drug effects Plant Diseases/microbiology/prevention;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineLackus, Nathalie D Lackner, Sandra Gershenzon, Jonathan Unsicker, Sybille B Kollner, Tobias G eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2018/12/19 Sci Rep. 2018 Dec 18; 8(1):17936. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-36302-6" |
