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Overexpression of Brassica napus COMT1 in Arabidopsis heightens UV-B-mediated resistance to Plutella xylostella herbivory

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Kirsty McInnes

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).

Abstract

© 2023, The Author(s).UV-B radiation regulates numerous morphogenic, biochemical and physiological responses in plants, and can stimulate some responses typically associated with other abiotic and biotic stimuli, including invertebrate herbivory. Removal of UV-B from the growing environment of various plant species has been found to increase their susceptibility to consumption by invertebrate pests, however, to date, little research has been conducted to investigate the effects of UV-B on crop susceptibility to field pests. Here, we report findings from a multi-omic and genetic-based study investigating the mechanisms of UV-B-stimulated resistance of the crop, Brassica napus (oilseed rape), to herbivory from an economically important lepidopteran specialist of the Brassicaceae, Plutella xylostella (diamondback moth). The UV-B photoreceptor, UV RESISTANCE LOCUS 8 (UVR8), was not found to mediate resistance to this pest. RNA-Seq and untargeted metabolomics identified components of the sinapate/lignin biosynthetic pathway that were similarly regulated by UV-B and herbivory. Arabidopsis mutants in genes encoding two enzymes in the sinapate/lignin biosynthetic pathway, CAFFEATE O-METHYLTRANSFERASE 1 (COMT1) and ELICITOR-ACTIVATED GENE 3–2 (ELI3-2), retained UV-B-mediated resistance to P. xylostella herbivory. However, the overexpression of B. napus COMT1 in Arabidopsis further reduced plant susceptibility to P. xylostella herbivory in a UV-B-dependent manner. These findings demonstrate that overexpression of a component of the sinapate/lignin biosynthetic pathway in a member of the Brassicaceae can enhance UV-B-stimulated resistance to herbivory from P. xylostella. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.].

Publication metadata

Author(s): McInnes KJ, van der Hooft JJJ, Sharma A, Herzyk P, Hundleby PAC, Schoonbeek H-J, Amtmann A, Ridout C, Jenkins GI

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences

Year: 2023

Pages: epub ahead of print

Online publication date: 28/07/2023

Acceptance date: 04/07/2023

Date deposited: 08/09/2023

ISSN (print): 1474-905X

ISSN (electronic): 1474-9092

Publisher: Springer Nature

URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43630-023-00455-9

DOI: 10.1007/s43630-023-00455-9

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