Systemic acquired resistance (SAR) is an inducible immune response that depends on ENHANCED DISEASE SUSCEPTIBILITY1 (EDS1), which is essential for SAR signalling. In contrast to SAR, local resistance remains intact in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) eds1-2 mutant plants in response to Pseudomonas syringae delivering the effector protein AvrRpm1. I utilized the SAR-specific phenotype of the eds1-2 mutant to identify volatile organic compounds (VOCs) related to SAR. To this end, SAR was induced by the P. syringae effector AvrRpm1 that was expressed from a dexamethasone-inducible transgene (pDEX:AvrRpm1-HA). The volatile emissions of Col-0 pDEX:AvrRpm1-HA (Col 0 dex) and eds1-2 pDEX:AvrRpm1-HA (eds1-2 dex) plants were collected and analysed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The monoterpenoid VOCs camphene, α-pinene, and ß-pinene were emitted at higher levels from Col-0 dex compared to eds1-2 dex mutant plants; this associates them with SAR. Incubation of Arabidopsis wild type (wt) plants with a purchased volatile blend of α-pinene, ß-pinene, camphene, and limonene induced resistance against the virulent P. syringae pathovar tomato (Pst) strain DC3000. α-Pinene and ß-pinene were the crucial components of the volatile blend, while camphene and limonene contaminants likely had a contributing effect to resistance. This induced resistance was accompanied by elevated transcript accumulation of the salicylic acid (SA) marker gene PATHOGENESIS-RELATED1 (PR1). Also, the SA pathway components ENHANCED DISEASE SUSCEPTIBILITY1 (EDS1), SA INDUCTION–DEFICIENT2 (SID2), and NONEXPRESSOR OF PR GENES1 (NPR1) were essential for the resistance phenotype induced by the volatile blend. Furthermore, GERANYL(GERANYL)DIPHOSPHATE SYNTHASE 12 (GGPPS12, At4g38460) is essential for monoterpene biosynthesis, and ggpps12 mutant plants showed a defect in SAR. However, resistance to Pst DC3000 was induced in ggpps12 mutant plants in response to the volatile blend camphene/α-pinene/β-pinene/limonene. Together, the data provide a first link between monoterpene biosynthesis and SAR, suggesting that the monoterpenoid VOCs camphene, α- and β-pinene, and limonene function additively and in parallel with SA in plant immunity and in particular SAR.
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Systemic acquired resistance (SAR) is an inducible immune response that depends on ENHANCED DISEASE SUSCEPTIBILITY1 (EDS1), which is essential for SAR signalling. In contrast to SAR, local resistance remains intact in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) eds1-2 mutant plants in response to Pseudomonas syringae delivering the effector protein AvrRpm1. I utilized the SAR-specific phenotype of the eds1-2 mutant to identify volatile organic compounds (VOCs) related to SAR. To this end, SAR was induced...
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