Rhamnolipids elicit defense responses and induce disease resistance against biotrophic, hemibiotrophic, and necrotrophic pathogens that require different signaling pathways in Arabidopsis and highlight a central role for salicylic acid

Plant Physiol. 2012 Nov;160(3):1630-41. doi: 10.1104/pp.112.201913. Epub 2012 Sep 11.

Abstract

Plant resistance to phytopathogenic microorganisms mainly relies on the activation of an innate immune response usually launched after recognition by the plant cells of microbe-associated molecular patterns. The plant hormones, salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid, and ethylene have emerged as key players in the signaling networks involved in plant immunity. Rhamnolipids (RLs) are glycolipids produced by bacteria and are involved in surface motility and biofilm development. Here we report that RLs trigger an immune response in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) characterized by signaling molecules accumulation and defense gene activation. This immune response participates to resistance against the hemibiotrophic bacterium Pseudomonas syringae pv tomato, the biotrophic oomycete Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis, and the necrotrophic fungus Botrytis cinerea. We show that RL-mediated resistance involves different signaling pathways that depend on the type of pathogen. Ethylene is involved in RL-induced resistance to H. arabidopsidis and to P. syringae pv tomato whereas jasmonic acid is essential for the resistance to B. cinerea. SA participates to the restriction of all pathogens. We also show evidence that SA-dependent plant defenses are potentiated by RLs following challenge by B. cinerea or P. syringae pv tomato. These results highlight a central role for SA in RL-mediated resistance. In addition to the activation of plant defense responses, antimicrobial properties of RLs are thought to participate in the protection against the fungus and the oomycete. Our data highlight the intricate mechanisms involved in plant protection triggered by a new type of molecule that can be perceived by plant cells and that can also act directly onto pathogens.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arabidopsis / drug effects
  • Arabidopsis / genetics
  • Arabidopsis / immunology*
  • Arabidopsis / microbiology*
  • Botrytis / drug effects
  • Botrytis / growth & development
  • Botrytis / physiology
  • Cyclopentanes / metabolism
  • Disease Resistance / immunology*
  • Ethylenes / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / drug effects
  • Glycolipids / pharmacology*
  • Models, Biological
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Oxylipins / metabolism
  • Peronospora / drug effects
  • Peronospora / physiology
  • Plant Diseases / immunology*
  • Plant Diseases / microbiology
  • Plant Leaves / drug effects
  • Plant Leaves / genetics
  • Plant Leaves / immunology
  • Plant Leaves / microbiology
  • Pseudomonas syringae / drug effects
  • Pseudomonas syringae / growth & development
  • Pseudomonas syringae / physiology
  • Salicylic Acid / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction* / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction* / genetics
  • Spores, Bacterial / drug effects
  • Spores, Bacterial / physiology
  • Spores, Fungal / drug effects
  • Spores, Fungal / physiology

Substances

  • Cyclopentanes
  • Ethylenes
  • Glycolipids
  • Oxylipins
  • rhamnolipid
  • jasmonic acid
  • ethylene
  • Salicylic Acid