The modulation of stomatal conductance and photosynthetic parameters is involved in Fusarium head blight resistance in wheat

PLoS One. 2020 Jun 30;15(6):e0235482. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0235482. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is one of the most devastating fungal diseases affecting grain crops and Fusarium graminearum is the most aggressive causal species. Several evidences shown that stomatal closure is involved in the first line of defence against plant pathogens. However, there is very little evidence to show that photosynthetic parameters change in inoculated plants. The aim of the present study was to study the role of stomatal regulation in wheat after F. graminearum inoculation and explore its possible involvement in FHB resistance. RT-qPCR revealed that genes involved in stomatal regulation are induced in the resistant Sumai3 cultivar but not in the susceptible Rebelde cultivar. Seven genes involved in the positive regulation of stomatal closure were up-regulated in Sumai3, but it is most likely, that two genes, TaBG and TaCYP450, involved in the negative regulation of stomatal closure, were strongly induced, suggesting that FHB response is linked to cross-talk between the genes promoting and inhibiting stomatal closure. Increasing temperature of spikes in the wheat genotypes and a decrease in photosynthetic efficiency in Rebelde but not in Sumai3, were observed, confirming the hypothesis that photosynthetic parameters are related to FHB resistance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Disease Resistance / genetics*
  • Fusariosis / immunology*
  • Fusarium / immunology
  • Fusarium / pathogenicity
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
  • Genes, Plant
  • Photosynthesis* / genetics
  • Photosynthesis* / immunology
  • Plant Diseases / immunology
  • Plant Diseases / microbiology
  • Plant Immunity / genetics
  • Plant Stomata* / genetics
  • Plant Stomata* / immunology
  • Plant Stomata* / physiology
  • Triticum / genetics
  • Triticum / immunology*
  • Triticum / microbiology

Grants and funding

GMB received the funding. This research was financed by the Rural Development Programme (PSR), of the Regione Umbria (Umbria Region) - 16.2 “SmartAgri Platform” Project and by the MIUR (the Italian Ministry for Education, University and Research) (Law 232/216, Department of Excellence). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.