Induced Systemic Resistance by Fluorescent Pseudomonas spp

ABSTRACT Fluorescent Pseudomonas spp. have been studied for decades for their plant growth-promoting effects through effective suppression of soilborne plant diseases. The modes of action that play a role in disease suppression by these bacteria include siderophore-mediated competition for iron, antibiosis, production of lytic enzymes, and induced systemic resistance (ISR). The involvement of ISR is typically studied in systems in which the Pseudomonas bacteria and the pathogen are inoculated and remain spatially separated on the plant, e.g., the bacteria on the root and the pathogen on the leaf, or by use of split root systems. Since no direct interactions are possible between the two populations, suppression of disease development has to be plant-mediated. In this review, bacterial traits involved in Pseudomonas-mediated ISR will be discussed.

Costs and benefits of priming for defense in Arabidopsis

Induced resistance protects plants against a wide spectrum of diseases; however, it can also entail costs due to the allocation of resources or toxicity of defensive products. The cellular defense responses involved in induced resistance are either activated directly or primed for augmented expression upon pathogen attack. Priming for defense may combine the advantages of enhanced disease protection and low costs. In this study, we have compared the costs and benefits of priming to those of induced direct defense in Arabidopsis. In the absence of pathogen infection, chemical priming by low doses of beta-aminobutyric acid caused minor reductions in relative growth rate and had no effect on seed production, whereas induction of direct defense by high doses of beta-aminobutyric acid or benzothiadiazole strongly affected both fitness parameters. These costs were defense-related, because the salicylic acid-insensitive defense mutant npr1-1 remained unaffected by these treatments. Furthermore, the constitutive priming mutant edr1-1 displayed only slightly lower levels of fitness than wild-type plants and performed considerably better than the constitutively activated defense mutant cpr1-1. Hence, priming involves less fitness costs than induced direct defense. Upon infection by Pseudomonas syringae or Hyaloperonospora parasitica, priming conferred levels of disease protection that almost equaled the protection in benzothiadiazole-treated wild-type plants and cpr1 plants. Under these conditions, primed plants displayed significantly higher levels of fitness than noninduced plants and plants expressing chemically or cpr1-induced direct defense. Collectively, our results indicate that the benefits of priming-mediated resistance outweigh the costs in environments in which disease occurs.

Significance of inducible defense-related proteins in infected plants

Inducible defense-related proteins have been described in many plant species upon infection with oomycetes, fungi, bacteria, or viruses, or insect attack. Several types of proteins are common and have been classified into 17 families of pathogenesis-related proteins (PRs). Others have so far been found to occur more specifically in some plant species. Most PRs and related proteins are induced through the action of the signaling compounds salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, or ethylene, and possess antimicrobial activities in vitro through hydrolytic activities on cell walls, contact toxicity, and perhaps an involvement in defense signaling. However, when expressed in transgenic plants, they reduce only a limited number of diseases, depending on the nature of the protein, plant species, and pathogen involved. As exemplified by the PR-1 proteins in Arabidopsis and rice, many homologous proteins belonging to the same family are regulated developmentally and may serve different functions in specific organs or tissues. Several defense-related proteins are induced during senescence, wounding or cold stress, and some possess antifreeze activity. Many defense-related proteins are present constitutively in floral tissues and a substantial number of PR-like proteins in pollen, fruits, and vegetables can provoke allergy in humans. The evolutionary conservation of similar defense-related proteins in monocots and dicots, but also their divergent occurrence in other conditions, suggest that these proteins serve essential functions in plant life, whether in defense or not.

No role for bacterially produced salicylic Acid in rhizobacterial induction of systemic resistance in Arabidopsis

ABSTRACT The role of bacterially produced salicylic acid (SA) in the induction of systemic resistance in plants by rhizobacteria is far from clear. The strong SA producer Pseudomonas fluorescens WCS374r induces resistance in radish but not in Arabidopsis thaliana, whereas application of SA leads to induction of resistance in both plant species. In this study, we compared P. fluorescens WCS374r with three other SA-producing fluorescent Pseudomonas strains, P. fluorescens WCS417r and CHA0r, and P. aeruginosa 7NSK2 for their abilities to produce SA under different growth conditions and to induce systemic resistance in A. thaliana against bacterial speck, caused by P. syringae pv. tomato. All strains produced SA in vitro, varying from 5 fg cell(-1) for WCS417r to >25 fg cell(-1) for WCS374r. Addition of 200 muM FeCl(3) to standard succinate medium abolished SA production in all strains. Whereas the incubation temperature did not affect SA production by WCS417r and 7NSK2, strains WCS374r and CHA0r produced more SA when grown at 33 instead of 28 degrees C. WCS417r, CHA0r, and 7NSK2 induced systemic resistance apparently associated with their ability to produce SA, but WCS374r did not. Conversely, a mutant of 7NSK2 unable to produce SA still triggered induced systemic resistance (ISR). The possible involvement of SA in the induction of resistance was evaluated using SA-nonaccumulating transgenic NahG plants. Strains WCS417r, CHA0r, and 7NSK2 induced resistance in NahG Arabidopsis. Also, WCS374r, when grown at 33 or 36 degrees C, triggered ISR in these plants, but not in ethylene-insensitive ein2 or in non-plant pathogenesis- related protein-expressing npr1 mutant plants, irrespective of the growth temperature of the bacteria. These results demonstrate that, whereas WCS374r can be manipulated to trigger ISR in Arabidopsis, SA is not the primary determinant for the induction of systemic resistance against bacterial speck disease by this bacterium. Also, for the other SAproducing strains used in this study, bacterial determinants other than SA must be responsible for inducing resistance.

The transcriptome of rhizobacteria-induced systemic resistance in arabidopsis

Plants develop an enhanced defensive capacity against a broad spectrum of plant pathogens after colonization of the roots by selected strains of nonpathogenic, fluorescent Pseudomonas spp. In Arabidopsis thaliana, this rhizobacteria-induced systemic resistance (ISR) functions independently of salicylic acid but requires responsiveness to the plant hormones jasmonic acid and ethylene. In contrast to pathogen-induced systemic acquired resistance, rhizobacteria-mediated ISR is not associated with changes in the expression of genes encoding pathogenesis-related proteins. To identify ISR-related genes, we surveyed the transcriptional response of over 8,000 Arabidopsis genes during rhizobacteria-mediated ISR. Locally in the roots, ISR-inducing Pseudomonas fluorescens WCS417r bacteria elicited a substantial change in the expression of 97 genes. However, systemically in the leaves, none of the approximately 8,000 genes tested showed a consistent change in expression in response to effective colonization of the roots by WCS417r, indicating that the onset of ISR in the leaves is not associated with detectable changes in gene expression. After challenge inoculation of WCS417r-induced plants with the bacterial leaf pathogen P. syringae pv. tomato DC3000, 81 genes showed an augmented expression pattern in ISR-expressing leaves, suggesting that these genes were primed to respond faster or more strongly upon pathogen attack. The majority of the primed genes was predicted to be regulated by jasmonic acid or ethylene signaling. Priming of pathogen-induced genes allows the plant to react more effectively to the invader encountered, which might explain the broad-spectrum action of rhizobacteria-mediated ISR.

The transcriptome of rhizobacteria-induced systemic resistance in arabidopsis

Plants develop an enhanced defensive capacity against a broad spectrum of plant pathogens after colonization of the roots by selected strains of nonpathogenic, fluorescent Pseudomonas spp. In Arabidopsis thaliana, this rhizobacteria-induced systemic resistance (ISR) functions independently of salicylic acid but requires responsiveness to the plant hormones jasmonic acid and ethylene. In contrast to pathogen-induced systemic acquired resistance, rhizobacteria-mediated ISR is not associated with changes in the expression of genes encoding pathogenesis-related proteins. To identify ISR-related genes, we surveyed the transcriptional response of over 8,000 Arabidopsis genes during rhizobacteria-mediated ISR. Locally in the roots, ISR-inducing Pseudomonas fluorescens WCS417r bacteria elicited a substantial change in the expression of 97 genes. However, systemically in the leaves, none of the approximately 8,000 genes tested showed a consistent change in expression in response to effective colonization of the roots by WCS417r, indicating that the onset of ISR in the leaves is not associated with detectable changes in gene expression. After challenge inoculation of WCS417r-induced plants with the bacterial leaf pathogen P. syringae pv. tomato DC3000, 81 genes showed an augmented expression pattern in ISR-expressing leaves, suggesting that these genes were primed to respond faster or more strongly upon pathogen attack. The majority of the primed genes was predicted to be regulated by jasmonic acid or ethylene signaling. Priming of pathogen-induced genes allows the plant to react more effectively to the invader encountered, which might explain the broad-spectrum action of rhizobacteria-mediated ISR.

Ethylene-insensitive tobacco shows differentially altered susceptibility to different pathogens

ABSTRACT Transgenic tobacco plants (Tetr) expressing the mutant etr1-1 gene from Arabidopsis thaliana are insensitive to ethylene and develop symptoms of wilting and stem rot when grown in nonautoclaved soil. Several isolates of Fusarium, Thielaviopsis, and Pythium were recovered from stems of diseased Tetr plants. Inoculation with each of these isolates of 6-week-old plants growing in autoclaved soil caused disease in Tetr plants but not in nontransformed plants. Also, when 2-week-old seedlings were used, nontransformed tobacco appeared nonsusceptible to the Fusarium isolates, whereas Tetr seedlings did develop disease. Tetr seedlings were not susceptible to several nonhost Fusarium isolates. In contrast to results with Fusarium isolates, inoculation of 2-week-old seedlings with a Thielaviopsis isolate resulted in equal symptom development of nontransformed and Tetr tobacco. In order to explore the potential range of pathogens to which Tetr tobacco plants display enhanced susceptibility, the pathogenicity of several root and leaf pathogens was tested. Tetr plants were more susceptible to the necrotrophic fungi Botrytis cinerea and Cercospora nicotianae and the bacterium Erwinia carotovora, but only marginally more to the bacterium Ralstonia solanacearum. In contrast, the biotrophic fungus Oidium neolycopersici, the oomycete Peronospora tabacina, and Tobacco mosaic virus caused similar or less severe symptoms on Tetr plants than on nontransformed plants. Total peroxidase activity of Tetr plants was lower than that of nontransformed plants, suggesting a role for peroxidases in resistance against necrotrophic microorganisms. A comparable range of pathogens was examined on Arabidopsis and its ethylene-insensitive mutants etr1-1 and ein2-1. With the exception of one Fusarium isolate, ethylene insensitivity increased susceptibility of Arabidopsis plants to a similar spectrum of necrotizing pathogens as in tobacco. Thus, both ethylene-insensitive tobacco and Arabidopsis plants appear to be impaired in their resistance to necrotrophic pathogens.

Repeated introduction of genetically modified Pseudomonas putida WCS358r without intensified effects on the indigenous microflora of field-grown wheat

To investigate the impact of genetically modified, antibiotic-producing rhizobacteria on the indigenous microbial community, Pseudomonas putida WCS358r and two transgenic derivatives were introduced as a seed coating into the rhizosphere of wheat in two consecutive years (1999 and 2000) in the same field plots. The two genetically modified microorganisms (GMMs), WCS358r::phz and WCS358r::phl, constitutively produced phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (PCA) and 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol (DAPG), respectively. The level of introduced bacteria in all treatments decreased from 10(7) CFU per g of roots soon after sowing to less than 10(2) CFU per g after harvest 132 days after sowing. The phz and phl genes remained stable in the chromosome of WCS358r. The amount of PCA produced in the wheat rhizosphere by WCS358r::phz was about 40 ng/g of roots after the first application in 1999. The DAPG-producing GMMs caused a transient shift in the indigenous bacterial and fungal microflora in 1999, as determined by amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis. However, after the second application of the GMMs in 2000, no shifts in the bacterial or fungal microflora were detected. To evaluate the importance of the effects induced by the GMMs, these effects were compared with those induced by crop rotation by planting wheat in 1999 followed by potatoes in 2000. No effect of rotation on the microbial community structure was detected. In 2000 all bacteria had a positive effect on plant growth, supposedly due to suppression of deleterious microorganisms. Our research suggests that the natural variability of microbial communities can surpass the effects of GMMs.

Control of Fusarium Wilt of Radish by Combining Pseudomonas putida Strains that have Different Disease-Suppressive Mechanisms

ABSTRACT Biological control of soilborne plant pathogens in the field has given variable results. By combining specific strains of microorganisms, multiple traits antagonizing the pathogen can be combined and this may result in a higher level of protection. Pseudomonas putida WCS358 suppresses Fusarium wilt of radish by effectively competing for iron through the production of its pseudobactin siderophore. However, in some bioassays pseudobactin-negative mutants of WCS358 also suppressed disease to the same extent as WCS358, suggesting that an, as yet unknown, additional mechanism may be operative in this strain. P. putida strain RE8 induced systemic resistance against fusarium wilt. When WCS358 and RE8 were mixed through soil together, disease suppression was significantly enhanced to approximately 50% as compared to the 30% reduction for the single strain treatments. Moreover, when one strain failed to suppress disease in the single application, the combination still resulted in disease control. The enhanced disease suppression by the combination of P. putida strains WCS358 and RE8 is most likely the result of the combination of their different disease-suppressive mechanisms. These results demonstrate that combining biocontrol strains can lead to more effective, or at least, more reliable biocontrol of fusarium wilt of radish.

Ethylene insensitivity impairs resistance to soilborne pathogens in tobacco and Arabidopsis thaliana

Transgenic ethylene-insensitive tobacco (Tetr) plants spontaneously develop symptoms of wilting and stem necrosis when grown in nonautoclaved soil. Fusarium oxysporum, F. solani, Thielaviopsis basicola, Rhizopus stolonifer, and two Pythium spp. were isolated from these diseased Tetr plants and demonstrated to be causal agents of the disease symptoms. Pathogenicity of the two Pythium isolates and four additional Pythium spp. was tested on ethylene-insensitive tobacco and Arabidopsis seedlings. In both plant species, ethylene insensitivity enhanced susceptibility to the Pythium spp., as evidenced by both a higher disease index and a higher percentage of diseased plants. Based on the use of a DNA probe specific for Pythium spp., Tetr plants exhibited more pathogen growth in stem and leaf tissue than similarly diseased control plants. These results demonstrate that ethylene signaling is required for resistance to different root pathogens and contributes to limiting growth and systemic spread of the pathogen.

Characterization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa chitinase, a gradually secreted protein

The gram-negative bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa secretes many proteins into its extracellular environment via the type I, II, and III secretion systems. In this study, a gene, chiC, coding for an extracellular chitinolytic enzyme, was identified. The chiC gene encodes a polypeptide of 483 amino acid residues, without a typical N-terminal signal sequence. Nevertheless, an N-terminal segment of 11 residues was found to be cleaved off in the secreted protein. The protein shows sequence similarity to the secreted chitinases ChiC of Serratia marcescens, ChiA of Vibrio harveyi, and ChiD of Bacillus circulans and consists of an activity domain and a chitin-binding domain, which are separated by a fibronectin type III domain. ChiC was able to bind and degrade colloidal chitin and was active on the artificial substrates carboxymethyl-chitin-Remazol Brilliant Violet and p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-N,N',N"-triacetylchitotriose, but not on p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-N-acetylglucosamine, indicating that it is an endochitinase. Expression of the chiC gene appears to be regulated by the quorum-sensing system of P. aeruginosa, since this gene was not expressed in a lasIR vsmI mutant. After overnight growth, the majority of the ChiC produced was found intracellularly, whereas only small amounts were detected in the culture medium. However, after several days, the cellular pool of ChiC was largely depleted, and the protein was found in the culture medium. This release could not be ascribed to cell lysis. Since ChiC did not appear to be secreted via any of the known secretion systems, a novel secretion pathway seems to be involved.

Effect of genetically modified Pseudomonas putida WCS358r on the fungal rhizosphere microflora of field-grown wheat

We released genetically modified Pseudomonas putida WCS358r into the rhizospheres of wheat plants. The two genetically modified derivatives, genetically modified microorganism (GMM) 2 and GMM 8, carried the phz biosynthetic gene locus of strain P. fluorescens 2-79 and constitutively produced the antifungal compound phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (PCA). In the springs of 1997 and 1998 we sowed wheat seeds treated with either GMM 2, GMM 8, or WCS358r (approximately 10(7) CFU per seed), and measured the numbers, composition, and activities of the rhizosphere microbial populations. During both growing seasons, all three bacterial strains decreased from 10(7) CFU per g of rhizosphere sample to below the limit of detection (10(2) CFU per g) 1 month after harvest of the wheat plants. The phz genes were stably maintained, and PCA was detected in rhizosphere extracts of GMM-treated plants. In 1997, but not in 1998, fungal numbers in the rhizosphere, quantified on 2% malt extract agar (total filamentous fungi) and on Komada's medium (mainly Fusarium spp.), were transiently suppressed in GMM 8-treated plants. We also analyzed the effects of the GMMs on the rhizosphere fungi by using amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis. Introduction of any of the three bacterial strains transiently changed the composition of the rhizosphere fungal microflora. However, in both 1997 and 1998, GMM-induced effects were distinct from those of WCS358r and lasted for 40 days in 1997 and for 89 days after sowing in 1998, whereas effects induced by WCS358r were detectable for 12 (1997) or 40 (1998) days. None of the strains affected the metabolic activity of the soil microbial population (substrate-induced respiration), soil nitrification potential, cellulose decomposition, plant height, or plant yield. The results indicate that application of GMMs engineered to have improved antifungal activity can exert nontarget effects on the natural fungal microflora.

Analysis of the pmsCEAB gene cluster involved in biosynthesis of salicylic acid and the siderophore pseudomonine in the biocontrol strain Pseudomonas fluorescens WCS374

Mutants of Pseudomonas fluorescens WCS374 defective in biosynthesis of the fluorescent siderophore pseudobactin still display siderophore activity, indicating the production of a second siderophore. A recombinant cosmid clone (pMB374-07) of a WCS374 gene library harboring loci necessary for the biosynthesis of salicylic acid (SA) and this second siderophore pseudomonine was isolated. The salicylate biosynthesis region of WCS374 was localized in a 5-kb EcoRI fragment of pMB374-07. The SA and pseudomonine biosynthesis region was identified by transfer of cosmid pMB374-07 to a pseudobactin-deficient strain of P. putida. Sequence analysis of the 5-kb subclone revealed the presence of four open reading frames (ORFs). Products of two ORFs (pmsC and pmsB) showed homologies with chorismate-utilizing enzymes; a third ORF (pmsE) encoded a protein with strong similarity with enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of siderophores in other bacterial species. The region also contained a putative histidine decarboxylase gene (pmsA). A putative promoter region and two predicted iron boxes were localized upstream of pmsC. We determined by reverse transcriptase-mediated PCR that the pmsCEAB genes are cotranscribed and that expression is iron regulated. In vivo expression of SA genes was achieved in P. putida and Escherichia coli cells. In E. coli, deletions affecting the first ORF (pmsC) diminished SA production, whereas deletion of pmsB abolished it completely. The pmsB gene induced low levels of SA production in E. coli when expressed under control of the lacZ promoter. Several lines of evidence indicate that SA and pseudomonine biosynthesis are related. Moreover, we isolated a Tn5 mutant (374-05) that is simultaneously impaired in SA and pseudomonine production.

Enhancement of induced disease resistance by simultaneous activation of salicylate- and jasmonate-dependent defense pathways in Arabidopsis thaliana

The plant-signaling molecules salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) play an important role in induced disease resistance pathways. Cross-talk between SA- and JA-dependent pathways can result in inhibition of JA-mediated defense responses. We investigated possible antagonistic interactions between the SA-dependent systemic acquired resistance (SAR) pathway, which is induced upon pathogen infection, and the JA-dependent induced systemic resistance (ISR) pathway, which is triggered by nonpathogenic Pseudomonas rhizobacteria. In Arabidopsis thaliana, SAR and ISR are effective against a broad spectrum of pathogens, including the foliar pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst). Simultaneous activation of SAR and ISR resulted in an additive effect on the level of induced protection against Pst. In Arabidopsis genotypes that are blocked in either SAR or ISR, this additive effect was not evident. Moreover, induction of ISR did not affect the expression of the SAR marker gene PR-1 in plants expressing SAR. Together, these observations demonstrate that the SAR and the ISR pathway are compatible and that there is no significant cross-talk between these pathways. SAR and ISR both require the key regulatory protein NPR1. Plants expressing both types of induced resistance did not show elevated Npr1 transcript levels, indicating that the constitutive level of NPR1 is sufficient to facilitate simultaneous expression of SAR and ISR. These results suggest that the enhanced level of protection is established through parallel activation of complementary, NPR1-dependent defense responses that are both active against Pst. Therefore, combining SAR and ISR provides an attractive tool for the improvement of disease control.

Identification of a chitin-binding protein secreted by Pseudomonas aeruginosa

One of the major proteins secreted by Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a 43-kDa protein, which is cleaved by elastase into smaller fragments, including a 30-kDa and a 23-kDa fragment. The N-terminal 23-kDa fragment was previously suggested as corresponding to a staphylolytic protease and was designated LasD (S. Park and D. R. Galloway, Mol. Microbiol. 16:263-270, 1995). However, the sequence of the gene encoding this 43-kDa protein revealed that the N-terminal half of the protein is homologous to the chitin-binding proteins CHB1 of Streptomyces olivaceoviridis and CBP21 of Serratia marcescens and to the cellulose-binding protein p40 of Streptomyces halstedii. Furthermore, a short C-terminal fragment shows homology to a part of chitinase A of Vibrio harveyi. The full-length 43-kDa protein could bind chitin and was thereby protected against the proteolytic activity of elastase, whereas the degradation products did not bind chitin. The purified 43-kDa chitin-binding protein had no staphylolytic activity, and comparison of the enzymatic activities in the extracellular medium of a wild-type strain and a chitin-binding protein-deficient mutant indicated that the 43-kDa protein supports neither chitinolytic nor staphylolytic activity. We conclude that the 43-kDa protein, which was found to be produced by many clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa, is a chitin-binding protein, and we propose to name it CbpD (chitin-binding protein D).

Rhizobacteria-mediated induced systemic resistance (ISR) in Arabidopsis is not associated with a direct effect on expression of known defense-related genes but stimulates the expression of the jasmonate-inducible gene Atvsp upon challenge

Selected strains of nonpathogenic rhizobacteria from the genus Pseudomonas are capable of eliciting broad-spectrum induced systemic resistance (ISR) in plants that is phenotypically similar to pathogen-induced systemic acquired resistance (SAR). In Arabidopsis, the ISR pathway functions independently of salicylic acid (SA) but requires responsiveness to jasmonate and ethylene. Here, we demonstrate that known defense-related genes, i.e. the SA-responsive genes PR-1, PR-2, and PR-5, the ethylene-inducible gene Hel, the ethylene- and jasmonate-responsive genes ChiB and Pdf1.2, and the jasmonate-inducible genes Atvsp, Lox1, Lox2, Pall, and Pin2, are neither induced locally in the roots nor systemically in the leaves upon induction of ISR by Pseudomonas fluorescens WCS417r. In contrast, plants infected with the virulent leaf pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst) or expressing SAR induced by preinfecting lower leaves with the avirulent pathogen Pst(avrRpt2) exhibit elevated expression levels of most of the defense-related genes studied. Upon challenge inoculation with Pst, PR gene transcripts accumulated to a higher level in SAR-expressing plants than in control-treated and ISR-expressing plants, indicating that SAR involves potentiation of SA-responsive PR gene expression. In contrast, pathogen challenge of ISR-expressing plants led to an enhanced level of Atvsp transcript accumulation. The otherjasmonate-responsive defense-related genes studied were not potentiated during ISR, indicating that ISR is associated with the potentiation of specific jasmonate-responsive genes.

A novel signaling pathway controlling induced systemic resistance in Arabidopsis

Plants have the ability to acquire an enhanced level of resistance to pathogen attack after being exposed to specific biotic stimuli. In Arabidopsis, nonpathogenic, root-colonizing Pseudomonas fluorescens bacteria trigger an induced systemic resistance (ISR) response against infection by the bacterial leaf pathogen P. syringae pv tomato. In contrast to classic, pathogen-induced systemic acquired resistance (SAR), this rhizobacteria-mediated ISR response is independent of salicylic acid accumulation and pathogenesis-related gene activation. Using the jasmonate response mutant jar1, the ethylene response mutant etr1, and the SAR regulatory mutant npr1, we demonstrate that signal transduction leading to P. fluorescens WCS417r-mediated ISR requires responsiveness to jasmonate and ethylene and is dependent on NPR1. Similar to P. fluorescens WCS417r, methyl jasmonate and the ethylene precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate were effective in inducing resistance against P. s. tomato in salicylic acid-nonaccumulating NahG plants. Moreover, methyl jasmonate-induced protection was blocked in jar1, etr1, and npr1 plants, whereas 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate-induced protection was affected in etr1 and npr1 plants but not in jar1 plants. Hence, we postulate that rhizobacteria-mediated ISR follows a novel signaling pathway in which components from the jasmonate and ethylene response are engaged successively to trigger a defense reaction that, like SAR, is regulated by NPR1. We provide evidence that the processes downstream of NPR1 in the ISR pathway are divergent from those in the SAR pathway, indicating that NPR1 differentially regulates defense responses, depending on the signals that are elicited during induction of resistance.

A novel signaling pathway controlling induced systemic resistance in Arabidopsis

Plants have the ability to acquire an enhanced level of resistance to pathogen attack after being exposed to specific biotic stimuli. In Arabidopsis, nonpathogenic, root-colonizing Pseudomonas fluorescens bacteria trigger an induced systemic resistance (ISR) response against infection by the bacterial leaf pathogen P. syringae pv tomato. In contrast to classic, pathogen-induced systemic acquired resistance (SAR), this rhizobacteria-mediated ISR response is independent of salicylic acid accumulation and pathogenesis-related gene activation. Using the jasmonate response mutant jar1, the ethylene response mutant etr1, and the SAR regulatory mutant npr1, we demonstrate that signal transduction leading to P. fluorescens WCS417r-mediated ISR requires responsiveness to jasmonate and ethylene and is dependent on NPR1. Similar to P. fluorescens WCS417r, methyl jasmonate and the ethylene precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate were effective in inducing resistance against P. s. tomato in salicylic acid-nonaccumulating NahG plants. Moreover, methyl jasmonate-induced protection was blocked in jar1, etr1, and npr1 plants, whereas 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate-induced protection was affected in etr1 and npr1 plants but not in jar1 plants. Hence, we postulate that rhizobacteria-mediated ISR follows a novel signaling pathway in which components from the jasmonate and ethylene response are engaged successively to trigger a defense reaction that, like SAR, is regulated by NPR1. We provide evidence that the processes downstream of NPR1 in the ISR pathway are divergent from those in the SAR pathway, indicating that NPR1 differentially regulates defense responses, depending on the signals that are elicited during induction of resistance.

Systemic resistance induced by rhizosphere bacteria

Nonpathogenic rhizobacteria can induce a systemic resistance in plants that is phenotypically similar to pathogen-induced systemic acquired resistance (SAR). Rhizobacteria-mediated induced systemic resistance (ISR) has been demonstrated against fungi, bacteria, and viruses in Arabidopsis, bean, carnation, cucumber, radish, tobacco, and tomato under conditions in which the inducing bacteria and the challenging pathogen remained spatially separated. Bacterial strains differ in their ability to induce resistance in different plant species, and plants show variation in the expression of ISR upon induction by specific bacterial strains. Bacterial determinants of ISR include lipopolysaccharides, siderophores, and salicylic acid (SA). Whereas some of the rhizobacteria induce resistance through the SA-dependent SAR pathway, others do not and require jasmonic acid and ethylene perception by the plant for ISR to develop. No consistent host plant alterations are associated with the induced state, but upon challenge inoculation, resistance responses are accelerated and enhanced. ISR is effective under field conditions and offers a natural mechanism for biological control of plant disease.

Systemic resistance in Arabidopsis induced by biocontrol bacteria is independent of salicylic acid accumulation and pathogenesis-related gene expression

Systemic acquired resistance is a pathogen-inducible defense mechanism in plants. The resistant state is dependent on endogenous accumulation of salicylic acid (SA) and is characterized by the activation of genes encoding pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins. Recently, selected nonpathogenic, root-colonizing biocontrol bacteria have been shown to trigger a systemic resistance response as well. To study the molecular basis underlying this type of systemic resistance, we developed an Arabidopsis-based model system using Fusarium oxysporum f sp raphani and Pseudomonas syringae pv tomato as challenging pathogens. Colonization of the rhizosphere by the biological control strain WCS417r of P. fluorescens resulted in a plant-mediated resistance response that significantly reduced symptoms elicited by both challenging pathogens. Moreover, growth of P. syringae in infected leaves was strongly inhibited in P. fluorescens WCS417r-treated plants. Transgenic Arabidopsis NahG plants, unable to accumulate SA, and wild-type plants were equally responsive to P. fluorescens WCS417r-mediated induction of resistance. Furthermore, P. fluorescens WCS417r-mediated systemic resistance did not coincide with the accumulation of PR mRNAs before challenge inoculation. These results indicate that P. fluorescens WCS417r induces a pathway different from the one that controls classic systemic acquired resistance and that this pathway leads to a form of systemic resistance independent of SA accumulation and PR gene expression.

Systemic resistance in Arabidopsis induced by biocontrol bacteria is independent of salicylic acid accumulation and pathogenesis-related gene expression

Systemic acquired resistance is a pathogen-inducible defense mechanism in plants. The resistant state is dependent on endogenous accumulation of salicylic acid (SA) and is characterized by the activation of genes encoding pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins. Recently, selected nonpathogenic, root-colonizing biocontrol bacteria have been shown to trigger a systemic resistance response as well. To study the molecular basis underlying this type of systemic resistance, we developed an Arabidopsis-based model system using Fusarium oxysporum f sp raphani and Pseudomonas syringae pv tomato as challenging pathogens. Colonization of the rhizosphere by the biological control strain WCS417r of P. fluorescens resulted in a plant-mediated resistance response that significantly reduced symptoms elicited by both challenging pathogens. Moreover, growth of P. syringae in infected leaves was strongly inhibited in P. fluorescens WCS417r-treated plants. Transgenic Arabidopsis NahG plants, unable to accumulate SA, and wild-type plants were equally responsive to P. fluorescens WCS417r-mediated induction of resistance. Furthermore, P. fluorescens WCS417r-mediated systemic resistance did not coincide with the accumulation of PR mRNAs before challenge inoculation. These results indicate that P. fluorescens WCS417r induces a pathway different from the one that controls classic systemic acquired resistance and that this pathway leads to a form of systemic resistance independent of SA accumulation and PR gene expression.

Virus-induced gene expression for enzymes of ethylene biosynthesis in hypersensitively reacting tobacco

A full-length cDNA clone (cEFE-26) encoding ethylene-forming enzyme (EFE) was isolated from a cDNA library, prepared from leaves of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV)-infected tobacco cultivar Samsun NN. The cDNA clone encodes a protein with 90% amino acid sequence similarity to established EFEs of tomato and other plants. By using cEFE-26 cDNA and the insert from cDNA clone pACC13 (B. A. Bailey, A. Avni, N. Li, A. K. Mattoo, and J. D. Anderson, Plant Physiol. 100:1615-1616, 1992) encoding tobacco 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase as probes, it was established that tobacco contains small gene families for these proteins. Furthermore, RNA blot analyses indicated that transcript levels in leaves for the two ethylene pathway genes were elevated after infection with TMV. The results are discussed in relation to a possible signalling role of ethylene in induced resistance and gene expression for pathogenesis-related proteins.

On the relationship between X-bodies and symptom development in plants infected with different tobamoviruses

The relationship between systemic mosaic symptoms and the occurrence of viral 126-kDa protein in X-bodies was studied in tobacco infected with the tobacco mild green mosaic virus (TMGMV) strains U2, U5, and ribgrass mosaic virus (RMV) strain HR, and in other plant species infected with tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) strain W U 1. Strains U2, U5, and HR coded for proteins of 126, 126, and 130 kDa, respectively, but these were not recognized by antisera against the corresponding protein from W U 1. Only the HR 130-kDa protein reacted with an antiserum raised against a peptide of amino acids 849-863 from the sequence of W U 1. Electron microscopic analysis established the presence of virus clusters in the cytoplasm, as well as in chloroplasts, in leaf tissue infected with U 2 or U 5, and adjacent to nuclei and chloroplasts in scattered cells infected with HR. X-bodies were not detected after infection with any of these strains, but were large and adjacent to nuclei in W U 1-infected tomato displaying severe mosaic symptoms. Large X-bodies were detected near nuclei in W U 1-infected tomato displaying severe mosaic symptoms, but none were detected after infection of tobacco with any of the other tobamoviruses. The induction of X-bodies appears to be characteristic of some tobamovirus only and, at best, can only be associated with, rather than causative of, the severity of symptoms induced by those viruses.

Role of Abscisic Acid in the Induction of Desiccation Tolerance in Developing Seeds of Arabidopsis thaliana

In contrast to wild-type seeds of Arabidopsis thaliana and to seeds deficient in (aba) or insensitive to (abi3) abscisic acid (ABA), maturing seeds of recombinant (aba,abi3) plants fail to desiccate, remain green, and lose viability upon drying. These double-mutant seeds acquire only low levels of the major storage proteins and are deficient in several low mol wt polypeptides, both soluble and bound, and some of which are heat stable. A major heat-stable glycoprotein of more than 100 kilodaltons behaves similarly; during seed development, it shows a decrease in size associated with the abi3 mutation. In seeds of the double mutant from 14 to 20 days after pollination, the low amounts of various maturation-specific proteins disappear and many higher mol wt proteins similar to those occurring during germination are induced, but no visible germination is apparent. It appears that in the aba,abi3 double mutant seed development is not completed and the program for seed germination is initiated prematurely in the absence of substances protective against dehydration. Seeds may be made desiccation tolerant by watering the plants with the ABA analog LAB 173711 or by imbibition of isolated immature seeds, 11 to 15 days after pollination, with ABA and sucrose. Whereas sucrose stimulates germination and may protect dehydration-sensitive structures from desiccation damage, ABA inhibits precocious germination and is required to complete the program for seed maturation and the associated development of desiccation tolerance.

Accumulation of the 126 kDa protein of tobacco mosaic virus during systemic infection analysed by immunocytochemistry and ELISA

Systemic infection of tobacco with tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) strain WU1, is accompanied by massive accumulation of the virus-coded non-structural 126 kDa protein in X-bodies. The development of X-bodies and the time course of the increase in 126 kDa protein in systemically infected leaves were analyzed by immunocytochemistry and ELISA, respectively, using an antiserum raised against a fusion protein of beta-galactosidase and part of the 126 kDa protein. The ELISA assay developed enabled routine detection of viral 126 kDa (as well as 183 kDa) protein in samples of less than 5 mg of systemically infected leaves. Plants were inoculated by differential temperature treatment, whereafter the accumulation of 126 kDa protein was related to viral multiplication, the development of X-bodies and the formation of symptoms. Both 126 kDa protein and coat protein became detectable between 40 and 66 h after transfer of the plants and increased in parallel up to 200 h. Vein clearing was visible at 66 h, followed by mosaic in the newly developed leaves at 112 h. By electron microscopical analysis small X-bodies, weakly labelled with antibodies against the 126 kDa protein, were detected as early as 24 h after transfer. At this stage they were not associated with nuclei. Thereafter, however, X-bodies increased in size and 126 kDa labelling density, and were increasingly often observed attached to nuclei. In emerging leaves that developed mosaic symptoms, X-bodies were associated with nuclei already at an early stage. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that association of X-bodies with nuclei may lead to symptom induction, when the leaf is invaded by the virus early in its development.

Petunia peroxidase a: isolation, purification and characteristics

The fast-moving anionic peroxidase isoenzyme variant PRXa was purified from leaves of petunia (Petunia hybrida). Over 1300-fold purification was achieved by subjecting extracellular extracts to two sequential acetone precipitations and resuspending the pellets at pH 5.0 and pH 8.0, respectively, followed by gel filtration and chromatofocusing. The purified enzyme had an absorbance ratio (A405 nm/A280 nm) of 3.6, a molecular mass of about 37 kDa and a pI of 3.8. Three molecular forms with slightly different molecular masses were separated by concanavalin-A--Sepharose affinity chromatography, indicating that these three forms differ in their carbohydrate moieties. The absorption spectrum of PRXa had maxima at 496 and 636 nm and a Soret band at 405 nm. Spectra of compounds I and IV were obtained by titrating a batch of PRXa stored for several months at -20 degrees C with H2O2. The addition of 1 mol H2O2/mol freshly purified PRXa caused the formation of compound II, indicating that freshly isolated PRXa contains a bound hydrogen donor which is lost upon storage. Compound III was obtained from both preparations in the presence of excess H2O2. The pH optimum of PRXa for the reaction with H2O2 and guaiacol was 5.0 and its specific activity 61 mkat/g protein. Among various aromatic compounds, coniferyl alcohol was polymerized by PRXa to presumed lignin-like material. The extracellular localization and high affinity of PRXa for the cinnamic acid derivatives suggest that this isoenzyme functions in the polymerization or cross-linking of lignin in the plant cell wall.

Antigenic relationships between petunia peroxidase a and specific peroxidase isoenzymes in other Solanaceae

A highly specific rabbit antiserum raised against peroxidase (PRXa) from petunia (Petunia hybrida) was used to investigate the antigenic relatedness of peroxidases in the Solanaceae. After SDS-PAGE of crude leaf extracts from a large number of species of this family, immunoblotting revealed that cross-reacting protein bands were present in all species tested. In order to determine whether these protein bands represent peroxidases, the peroxidase isoenzymes in thorn apple (Datura stramonium L.), tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.), sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) were further analyzed. Immunoblots obtained after native PAGE revealed that the antiserum only recognized fast-moving peroxidase isoenzymes that are localized in the apoplast. Despite their serological relatedness, these peroxidases differed with respect to heat stability and apparent molecular weight. Differences in avidity for the petunia PRXa antiserum were suggested by immunoprecipitation with antibodies bound to protein A-Sepharose. The antiserum did not react with peroxidases from horseradish (Armoracea rusticana Gaertn., Mey and Scherb), turnip (Brassica napus L.), African marigold (Tagetes cresta L.), maize (Zea mays L.), and oats (Avena sativa L.). Apparently, the Solanaceae contain orthologous genes encoding the fast-moving anionic peroxidases homologous to petunia PRXa.

Analysis of acidic and basic chitinases from tobacco and petunia and their constitutive expression in transgenic tobacco

cDNA clones of messenger RNAs for acidic and basic chitinases were isolated from libraries of tobacco mosaic virus-infected Samsun NN tobacco and petunia. The tobacco cDNA clones for acidic chitinase fell into two different groups, whereas all petunia cDNA clones had the same sequence. Also, tobacco genomic clones were isolated and one was characterized. This genomic clone, corresponding to one of the cDNA clones, showed that this acidic chitinase gene contains two introns. The amino acid sequences of the acidic chitinases from tobacco, as deduced from the cDNA clones, fully agreed with partial sequences derived from peptides obtained from purified tobacco-derived pathogenesis-related proteins PR-P and PR-Q. The deduced amino acid sequences showed that PR-P and PR-Q are 93 and 78%, respectively, identical to the petunia enzyme. All deduced chitinase sequences indicated the presence of an NH2-terminal, highly hydrophobic signal peptide. In addition, the polysaccharide-binding domain present at the NH2-terminus of basic chitinases from mature tobacco is not present in these acidic chitinases. Furthermore, the complete coding sequence for the petunia chitinase, constructed downstream of the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter, was used to transform tobacco. The resulting chimeric gene was constitutively expressed, and the petunia enzyme was targeted to the extracellular fluid. In contrast, a basic chitinase of tobacco, expressed from a chimeric gene, was found in total leaf extracts but not in preparations of extracellular fluid.

Association of viral 126 kDa protein-containing X-bodies with nuclei in mosaic-diseased tobacco leaves

During the development of systemic mosaic symptoms in tobacco mosaic virus (TMV)-infected tobacco, the viral non-structural 126-kDa-protein was present among the chromatin-associated proteins in fractionated leaf homogenates [Van Telgen HJ et al. (1984) Virology 143: 612-616]. Using an antiserum raised against a fusion protein of beta-galactosidase and part of the 126-kDa-protein of TMV, this viral protein was detected by immunoelectron microscopy in X-bodies in infected tissue. No labelling of nuclei was apparent. However, in embedded purified nuclear preparations from systemically infected leaves amorphous structures, most likely X-bodies, were present and specifically labelled. In contrast, using antibodies against tobacco histones, only nuclei were labelled. Antibodies against viral coat protein labelled crystalline virus inclusions in the cytoplasm and did not react with nuclei. Light microscopic analysis indicated that X-bodies were almost always associated with nuclei. Thus, the presence of X-bodies in nuclear preparations appeared to result from adherence of the X-bodies to the nuclei.

Subcellular Localization of Proteases in Developing Leaves of Oats (Avena sativa L.)

The distribution and subcellular localization of the two major proteases present in oat (Avena sativa L. cv Victory) leaves was investigated. Both the acidic protease, active at pH 4.5, and the neutral protease, active at pH 7.5, are soluble enzymes; a few percent of the enzyme activity was ionically bound or loosely associated with organellar structures sedimenting at 1000g. On the average, 16% of the acidic protease could be washed out of the intercellular space of the leaf. Since isolated protoplasts contained correspondingly lower activities as compared to crude leaf extracts, part of the acidic activity is associated with cell walls. No neutral protease activity was recovered in intercellular washing fluid. Of the activities present in protoplasts, the acidic protease was localized in the vacuole, whereas the neutral protease was not. The localization of the acidic protease in vacuoles did not change during leaf development up to an advanced stage of senescence, when more than 50% of the leaf protein had been degraded. These observations indicate that protein degradation during leaf senescence is not due to a redistribution of acidic protease activity from the vacuole to the cytoplasm.

Identification, purification, and characterization of pathogenesis-related proteins from virus-infected Samsun NN tobacco leaves

Ten pH-3 soluble, low-molecular-weight pathogenesis-related proteins (PRs) were found to accumulate in leaves of tobacco cv. Samsun NN reacting hypersensitively to tobacco mosaic virus. Besides the previously characterized PRs 1a, 1b, 1c and 2, these proteins were provisionally designated N, O, P, Q, R, and S in order of decreasing electrophoretic mobility in native polyacrylamide gels. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis indicated that the PRs consist of single polypeptides, except for R, which is composed of two components with slightly different molecular weights. Estimated molecular weights in SDS-containing gels were: PRs 1a and 1b 17 kD, 1c 16.5 kD, 2 31 kD, N 33 kD, O 35 kD, P 27 kD, Q 28 kD, R 13 and 15 kD, and S 25 kD. However, based on their elution from gel filtration columns and relative moblities in native gels of different acrylamide concentrations, P and Q appeared to have molecular weights similar to those of the PR 1 group. Upon chromatofocusing no additional components were resolved. The PRs were eluted between pH 7 and 4; except for R, their pIs, as judged from isoelectric focusing, appeared to lie in the range from pH 4 to 5.2. In the presence of 6 M urea PR 1a was split into two components, one of which was strongly retarded on gels, as were P and Q. None of the PRs was detected when gels were stained for glycoproteins.By combinations of gel filtration, DEAE-cellulose chromatography, and chromatofocusing, PRs 1a, 1b, 1c, 2 and N were purified, their amino acid compositions determined, and antisera raised against each of these components. By Western blotting, antisera against either PR 1a, 1b, or 1c reacted with each of the components of the PR 1 group, as well as with PR S. Similarly, the antisera against either PR 2 or N reacted with both 2 and N, as well as with O and R. On the basis of major similarities in molecular weight characteristics, amino acid compositions, and serological relationships, it is proposed to classify tobacco PRs into five groups: 1: PRs 1a, 1b, and 1c; 2: 2a (formerly 2), 2b (N), and 2c (O); 3: 3a (P), and 3b (Q); 4: 4a and 4b (the two components of R); and 5: PR 5 (S).

cDNA cloning of six mRNAs induced by TMV infection of tobacco and a characterization of their translation products

A cDNA library was constructed to 10-15 S poly(A) RNA from tobacco mosaic virus (MV)-infected Samsun NN tobacco.By differential colony hybridization of 1400 transformants,32 clones were obtained corresponding to TMV-inducible tobacco mRNAs. These clones were subdivided into six clusters on the basis of cross-hybridization of the inserts. By Northern blot hybridization it was shown that three of the corresponding mRNAs were strongly induced by spraying tobacco plants with salicylic acid, whereas one mRNA was weakly induced by this treatment. All mRNAs were systemically induced in plants in which only the lower leaves were locally infected by TMV. Hybrid-selected translation was performed, using six clones representing one cluster each, followed by immunoprecipitation using an antiserum to purified pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins. Four clones yielded precipitable translation products. One of these clones represented a cluster of PR-1 clones, another clone encoded the thaumatin-like (TL) protein of tobacco which may correspond to PR-P or -Q.

Virus-induced synthesis of messenger RNAs for precursors of pathogenesis-related proteins in tobacco

Infection of Samsun NN tobacco with tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) induces a number of host-encoded, so-called pathogenesis-related (PR-) proteins, which are found in the intercellular space of the leaf and are associated with induced resistance. By immunoprecipitation of their in vitro translation products we were able to detect the mRNAs corresponding to a number of PR-proteins in TMV-infected tobacco, but not in healthy plants. Analysis by the Northern blot technique using cloned cDNA of PR1-mRNAs as probe showed that the mRNAs for the closely related proteins PR1a, 1b and 1c occur at a low level in healthy tobacco; upon TMV infection this level is increased > 100-fold. The PR1-specific probe did no hybridize to mRNAs corresponding to other PR-proteins. Sequencing of the 5'-terminal region of PR1-mRNAs showed that PR1-proteins are derived from precursors by removal of an N-terminal signal peptide of 30 amino acids.

Regulation of Ethylene Biosynthesis in Virus-Infected Tobacco Leaves : II. TIME COURSE OF LEVELS OF INTERMEDIATES AND IN VIVO CONVERSION RATES

Ethylene production was stimulated severalfold during the hypersensitive reaction of Samsun NN tobacco to tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). Exogenous methionine or S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) did not increase ethylene evolution from healthy or TMV-infected leaf discs, although both precursors were directly available for ethylene production. This indicates that ethylene production is not controlled at the level of methionine concentration or availability, nor at the level of SAM production or concentration. In contrast, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) stimulated ethylene production considerably. Thus, ethylene production is primarily limited at the level of ACC production.The regulation of ethylene production during the hypersensitive reaction to TMV was further studied by determining the time course of the concentrations of methionine, SAM, and ACC, as well as the course of their in vivo conversion rates. Endogenous concentrations of methionine and SAM remained unaffected until late in infection. On the contrary, the peak in ethylene production near the time of local lesion development was preceded by a large increase in ACC production. As a result of this increase, ACC accumulated in the leaf tissue. Only after local lesions became visible, the capacity to convert ACC into ethylene increased severalfold, associated with a sharp decrease in ACC content and a large increase in ethylene production.Ethylene production in tobacco leaves reacting hypersensitively to TMV is thus regulated at the level of both the production of ACC and its conversion to ethylene.

The modulation of the conversion of l-aminocyclopropane-l-carboxylic acid to ethylene by light

Endogenous ethylene production of tobacco leaves was similar in light and in darkness. However, the rate of conversion of exogenously applied l-aminocyclopropane-l-carboxylic acid (ACC) to ethylene was reversibly inhibited by light. Virus-stimulated ethylene production, during the hypersensitive reaction of tobacco leaves to tobacco mosaic virus, was likewise inhibited by light. Under such circumstances ethylene production is limited at the level of the conversion of ACC to ethylene. Inhibition of the increase in ACC-stimulated ethylene production by cycloheximide and 2-(4-methyl-2,6-dinitroanilino)-N-methyl-propionamide after shifting leaf discs from light to darkness indicated that de novo protein synthsis was involved. Regulation of ACC-dependent ethylene production by reversible oxidation/reduction of essential SH groups, as suggested by Gepstein and Thimann (1980, Planta 149, 196-199) could be excluded. Instead, regulation of the ACC-converting enzyme at the level of both synthesis/degradation and activation/inactivation is suggested. Phytochrome was not involved in light inhibition, but low intensities of either red or blue light decreased the rate of ACC conversion. Dichlorophenyldimethylurea counteracted the inhibitory effect of light, indicating that (part of) the photosynthetic system is involved in the light inhibition. The ethylene production of Pharbitis cotyledons grown in darkness or light, either in the presence of absence of the inhibitor of carotenoid synthesis, SAN 9789 (norflurazon), supported this view.

Regulation of Ethylene Biosynthesis in Virus-Infected Tobacco Leaves : I. DETERMINATION OF THE ROLE OF METHIONINE AS THE PRECURSOR OF ETHYLENE

The hypersensitive reaction of Samsun NN tobacco leaves to tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) was accompanied by a large increase in ethylene production, just before necrotic local lesions became visible. Normal and virus-induced ethylene production were both largely inhibited by 0.1 millimolar aminoethoxyvinylglycine indicating that methionine is a main ethylene precursor.The contribution of methionine to ethylene production was estimated by labeling leaves with l-[U-(14)C]methionine and comparing the specific activities of methionine within and ethylene produced by the leaf. When taken up through the petiole, methionine was largely retained in the veins, leading to production of ethylene with a far higher specific activity in the veins than in the interveinal tissue. After TMV infection, ethylene production increased only in the interveinal tissue, resulting in a decrease in specific activity of the ethylene produced. In the interveinal tissue, the specific radioactivity of the ethylene was lower than expected if methionine were the only precursor. After labeling by vacuum infiltration, the specific activities of the ethylene produced by water- and TMV-inoculated leaves were both identical and in accordance with the specific radioactivity of methionine. Inasmuch as the content of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid was increased severalfold two days after TMV infection, methionine can be considered to be the only ethylene precursor in healthy and in TMV-infected tobacco leaves.The increase in ethylene production after TMV-infection was not accompanied by an increased concentration of free methionine within the leaf. Compartmentation of methionine does not appear to be a regulating factor since labeled methionine supplied to the leaf by vacuum infiltration is equilibrated very rapidly with any methionine pool within the leaf cells.

Polyacrylamide disc electrophoresis of the soluble leaf proteins from Nicotiana tabacum var. 'Samsun' and 'Samsun NN'. IV. Similarity of qualitative changes of specific proteins after infection with different viruses and their relationship to acquired resistance

The development of systemic mosaic symptoms on Nicotiana tabacum var. 'Samsun' or 'Samsun NN' after infection with potato virus X (PVX), potato virus Yo (PVYo) or cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) was accompanied by differing alterations in protein constitution upon electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gels. Small amounts of four new protein components I-IV, identical to those found earlier in tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) infected Samsun NN, were observed in both varieties after infection with CMV. Only bands I and II were present after infection with PVYo, whereas no new components were detected in plants infected with PVX. Symptom expression differed in CMV-infected Samsun and Samsun NN, but changes in protein constitution were essentially similar for the two varieties. The induction of localized or systemic necrosis with tobacco necrosis virus, tobacco rattle virus or potato virus Yo always led to similar alterations and the appearance of the four new protein components in both varieties. Bands I-IV also occurred in symptomless leaves that developed after inoculation. However, the relative proportions of the bands varied with the variety used and with the characteristic of the infecting virus to remain localized or become systemic. In the variety Samsun NN, the presence of the new protein components closely correlated with the expression of acquired resistance after challenge inoculation with TMV. Systemic acquired resistance was also expressed in plants sprayed with mercuric chloride, although no new components had been induced. Inoculation with yeast-RNA induced only localized resistance by a mechanism that seems to differ from that of systemic acquired resistance and does not involve new protein components. In detached leaves of TMV-infected Samsun NN, lesions enlarged to a greater extent, and new protein components I-IV were induced to lower levels than in attached leaves. These observations are consistent with a role of the new protein components in limiting virus multiplication or spread.

Phosphorylation of Chromatin-associated Proteins in Lemna and Hordeum

Sterile embryos of barley (Hordeum vulgare) and cultures of Lemna perpusilla have been labeled with (32)Pi and the chromatin proteins prepared and separated by acid-urea and sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis. Under these conditions chromatin proteins became labeled and the gel radioactivity profiles which were complex indicated a probable minimum of 15 to 20 proteins phosphorylated with molecular weights ranging from 10(4) to 10(5). The majority of the radioactivity, 80 to 90% of the total, is found in the acidic protein fraction and this can be recovered as serine phosphate after partial acid hydrolysis.Nuclei have been isolated from Lemna and barley and found to possess endogenous kinase activity. In vitro labeling of these nuclei with (32)P-adenosine triphosphate indicated that similar proteins appear to become labeled as in vivo labeling with (32)Pi but the proportions of label in each protein were different.

Regulation of the Phosphorylation of Chromatin-associated Proteins in Lemna and Hordeum

This paper represents attempts to observe alterations in the pattern of chromatin protein phosphorylation in Lemna and barley (Hordeum vulgare).As judged by in vitro labeling the phosphorylation profile is substantially altered during germination. This may not be the result of specific tissue differentiation, however, because phosphorylation does not differ markedly between the embryonic root and shoot. Treatment of nuclei from germinating embryos with low concentrations of sodium or potassium chloride produced phosphorylation patterns similar but not identical to those found in nuclei from ungerminated embryos.Treatment of Lemna with abscisic acid in vivo causes substantial alterations in the labeling of three protein bands and part of this may be duplicated by labeling isolated nuclei from treated tissue with gamma(32)P-ATP. Some effects of light/dark transition on Lemna chromatin protein phosphorylation are also described.