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Souleyre EJF, Bowen JK, Matich AJ, Tomes S, Chen X, Hunt MB, Wang MY, Ileperuma NR, Richards K, Rowan DD, Chagné D, Atkinson RG. Genetic control of α-farnesene production in apple fruit and its role in fungal pathogenesis. Plant J 2019; 100:1148-1162. [PMID: 31436867 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.14504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Revised: 07/28/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Terpenes are important compounds in plant trophic interactions. A meta-analysis of GC-MS data from a diverse range of apple (Malus × domestica) genotypes revealed that apple fruit produces a range of terpene volatiles, with the predominant terpene being the acyclic branched sesquiterpene (E,E)-α-farnesene. Four quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for α-farnesene production in ripe fruit were identified in a segregating 'Royal Gala' (RG) × 'Granny Smith' (GS) population with one major QTL on linkage group 10 co-locating with the MdAFS1 (α-farnesene synthase-1) gene. Three of the four QTLs were derived from the GS parent, which was consistent with GC-MS analysis of headspace and solvent-extracted terpenes showing that cold-treated GS apples produced higher levels of (E,E)-α-farnesene than RG. Transgenic RG fruit downregulated for MdAFS1 expression produced significantly lower levels of (E,E)-α-farnesene. To evaluate the role of (E,E)-α-farnesene in fungal pathogenesis, MdAFS1 RNA interference transgenic fruit and RG controls were inoculated with three important apple post-harvest pathogens [Colletotrichum acutatum, Penicillium expansum and Neofabraea alba (synonym Phlyctema vagabunda)]. From results obtained over four seasons, we demonstrate that reduced (E,E)-α-farnesene is associated with decreased disease initiation rates of all three pathogens. In each case, the infection rate was significantly reduced 7 days post-inoculation, although the size of successful lesions was comparable with infections on control fruit. These results indicate that (E,E)-α-farnesene production is likely to be an important factor involved in fungal pathogenesis in apple fruit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edwige J F Souleyre
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited (PFR), Private Bag 92169, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand
| | - Joanna K Bowen
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited (PFR), Private Bag 92169, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand
| | - Adam J Matich
- PFR, Private Bag 11600, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand
| | - Sumathi Tomes
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited (PFR), Private Bag 92169, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand
| | - Xiuyin Chen
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited (PFR), Private Bag 92169, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand
| | - Martin B Hunt
- PFR, Private Bag 11600, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand
| | - Mindy Y Wang
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited (PFR), Private Bag 92169, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand
| | - Nadeesha R Ileperuma
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited (PFR), Private Bag 92169, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand
| | - Kate Richards
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited (PFR), Private Bag 92169, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand
| | - Daryl D Rowan
- PFR, Private Bag 11600, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand
| | - David Chagné
- PFR, Private Bag 11600, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand
| | - Ross G Atkinson
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited (PFR), Private Bag 92169, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand
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