Abstract Detail

Host/Plant Pathogen Interactions and Plant Health Management

Wilson, Daniel C. [1], Carella, Phil [1], Cameron, Robin K. [1].

Investigating the age-related resistance response of Arabidopsis thaliana to Pseudomonas syringae pv tomato.

Many plants exhibit enhanced resistance to pathogens at later developmental stages, a phenomenon known as age-related resistance (ARR). In Arabidopsis thaliana, mature plants show increased resistance relative to young plants against a variety of pathogens including the intercellular bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv tomato (Pst). The phytohormone salicylic acid (SA) is a key player in Arabidopsis ARR. While SA-accumulation mutants are ARR-defective, SA signaling mutants are not, suggesting that SA is required for ARR but not in a signaling capacity. Intercellular washing fluids (IWFs) collected from mature plants responding to Pst possess antibacterial activity that is not present in corresponding IWFs collected from young plants. As this antibacterial activity is associated with the presence of SA in IWFs, it appears that SA may act as an antimicrobial agent in the intercellular space during ARR. Interestingly, the chemically related compound 2,5-DHBA is also detected in IWFs of mature plants responding to Pst, suggesting that it may play a similar role. We previously reported that short vegetative phase (svp) mutants are ARR-defective and ongoing work indicates that this could be a result of reduced SA and 2,5-DHBA accumulation in the intercellular space during infection. Further study of SVP in this context could provide important insights into developmentally regulated defense responses in Arabidopsis and other plants.

1 - McMaster University , Biology, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S4L8, Canada

Keywords:
Arabidopsis thaliana
Pseudomonas syringae
salicylic acid
intercellular space
antimicrobial
age-related resistance.

Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Topics
Session: P
Location: Hall D/The Shaw Conference Centre
Date: Monday, July 27th, 2015
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PPA037
Abstract ID:793
Candidate for Awards:CSPB President's Award for Best Student Presentation,CPS Best Student Presentation Awards