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Plant Secondary Metabolites in Plant Defence against Abiotic and Biotic Stresses

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A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Plant Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 November 2021) | Viewed by 25691

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Dr. Federico Brilli

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Guest Editor

Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection (IPSP), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Rome, Italy
Interests: understanding the ecological and physiological role of volatile organic compounds (VOC) in plant-plant, plant-microbes and plant-insect interactions; application of plants VOC for sustainable improvement of plant defense
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Dear colleagues,

Being sessile organisms, plants are continuously exposed to stressful conditions that can hamper processes of ‘primary’ carbon metabolism, such as photosynthesis and respiration. Therefore, plants evolved multiple biosynthetic pathways that can produce a plethora of ‘secondary’ metabolites (e.g., volatile organic compounds, anthocyanins, carotenoids) with key physiological and ecological roles. Plant secondary metabolites can act as antioxidants and directly defend plants by quenching and modulating the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), or indirectly induce physiological mechanisms to enhance tolerance/resistance to stresses. Moreover, secondary metabolites can modify insect behavior and plant-associated microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, viruses), thus further orchestrating the interaction between plants and the surrounding environment.

This Special Issue will collect research results focusing on different aspects of plant secondary metabolites, from their biosynthesis in both the above- and belowground plant parts, to their involvement in signaling, immunization, priming, and cross-tolerance against (abiotic and biotic) stresses. Special consideration will be given to works exploring the possibility of making use of plant secondary metabolites to develop practical applications for sustainable plant defense in the field.

Dr. Federico Brilli
Guest Editor

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Keywords

abiotic and biotic stress
sustainable plant defense
volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)
antioxidants
priming
signaling
tolerance/resistance

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 1583 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Root Exposure to 5-Aminolevulinic Acid (ALA) Affects Leaf Element Accumulation, Isoprene Emission, Phytohormonal Balance, and Photosynthesis of Salt-Stressed Arundo donax

by Federico Brilli, Sara Pignattelli, Rita Baraldi, Luisa Neri, Susanna Pollastri, Cristina Gonnelli, Alessio Giovannelli, Francesco Loreto and Claudia Cocozza

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(8), 4311; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23084311 - 13 Apr 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1614

Abstract

Arundo donax has been recognized as a promising crop for biomass production on marginal lands due to its superior productivity and stress tolerance. However, salt stress negatively impacts A. donax growth and photosynthesis. In this study, we tested whether the tolerance of A. donax to salinity stress can be enhanced by the addition of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), a known promoter of plant growth and abiotic stress tolerance. Our results indicated that root exposure to ALA increased the ALA levels in leaves along the A. donax plant profile. ALA enhanced Na⁺ accumulation in the roots of salt-stressed plants and, at the same time, lowered Na⁺ concentration in leaves, while a reduced callose amount was found in the root tissue. ALA also improved the photosynthetic performance of salt-stressed apical leaves by stimulating stomatal opening and preventing an increase in the ratio between abscisic acid (ABA) and indol-3-acetic acid (IAA), without affecting leaf methanol emission and plant growth. Supply of ALA to the roots reduced isoprene fluxes from leaves of non-stressed plants, while it sustained isoprene fluxes along the profile of salt-stressed A. donax. Thus, ALA likely interacted with the methylerythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathway and modulate the synthesis of either ABA or isoprene under stressful conditions. Overall, our study highlights the effectiveness of ALA supply through soil fertirrigation in preserving the young apical developing leaves from the detrimental effects of salt stress, thus helping of A. donax to cope with salinity and favoring the recovery of the whole plant once the stress is removed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Secondary Metabolites in Plant Defence against Abiotic and Biotic Stresses)

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13 pages, 3244 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bio-Efficacy of Chrysoeriol7, a Natural Chemical and Repellent, against Brown Planthopper in Rice

by Eun-Gyeong Kim, Sopheap Yun, Jae-Ryoung Park, Yoon-Hee Jang, Muhammad Farooq, Byoung-Ju Yun and Kyung-Min Kim

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(3), 1540; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23031540 - 28 Jan 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2316

Abstract

Brown planthopper (BPH, Nilaparvata lugens Stal.) is the most damaging rice pest affecting stable rice yields worldwide. Currently, methods for controlling BPH include breeding a BPH-resistant cultivar and using synthetic pesticides. Nevertheless, the continuous cultivation of resistant cultivars allows for the emergence of various resistant races, and the use of synthetic pesticides can induce environmental pollution as well as the emergence of unpredictable new pest species. As plants cannot migrate to other locations on their own to combat various stresses, the production of secondary metabolites allows plants to protect themselves from stress and tolerate their reproduction. Pesticides using natural products are currently being developed to prevent environmental pollution and ecosystem disturbance caused by synthetic pesticides. In this study, after BPH infection in rice, chrysoeriol7 (C7), a secondary metabolite that induces resistance against BPH, was assessed. After C7 treatment and BPH infection, relative expression levels of the flavonoid-related genes were elevated, suggesting that in plants subjected to BPH, compounds related to flavonoids, among the secondary metabolites, play an important role in inducing resistance. The plant-derived natural compound chrysoeriol7 can potentially thus be used to develop environmentally friendly pesticides. The suggested control of BPH can be effectively used to alleviate concerns regarding environmental pollution and to construct a relatively safe rice breeding environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Secondary Metabolites in Plant Defence against Abiotic and Biotic Stresses)

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16 pages, 4685 KiB

Open AccessArticle

5-Methoxyindole, a Chemical Homolog of Melatonin, Adversely Affects the Phytopathogenic Fungus Fusarium graminearum

by Mengmeng Kong, Jing Liang, Qurban Ali, Wen Wen, Huijun Wu, Xuewen Gao and Qin Gu

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(20), 10991; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms222010991 - 12 Oct 2021

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2143

Abstract

Fusarium graminearum is a destructive fungal pathogen that threatens the production and quality of wheat, and controlling this pathogen is a significant challenge. As the cost-effective homolog of melatonin, 5-methoxyindole showed strong activity against F. graminearum. In the present study, our results showed the strong adverse activity of 5-methoxyindole against F. graminearum by inhibiting its growth, formation, and conidia germination. In addition, 5-methoxyindole could induce malformation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, and cell death in F. graminearum hyphae and conidia. In response to 5-methoxyindole, F. graminearum genes involved in scavenging reactive oxygen species were significantly downregulated. Overall, these findings reveal the mechanism of antifungal action of melatonin-homolog 5-methoxyindole. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report that a novel melatonin homolog confers strong antifungal activity against F. graminearum, and 5-methoxyindole is a potential compound for protecting wheat plants from F. graminearum infection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Secondary Metabolites in Plant Defence against Abiotic and Biotic Stresses)

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16 pages, 7370 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Protective Function and Modification of Secondary Metabolite Accumulation in Response to Light Stress in Dracocephalum forrestii Shoots

by Izabela Weremczuk-Jeżyna, Katarzyna Hnatuszko-Konka, Liwia Lebelt and Izabela Grzegorczyk-Karolak

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(15), 7965; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22157965 - 26 Jul 2021

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3210

Abstract

The aim of this work was to determine the effect of stress conditions caused by different light sources, i.e., blue LED (λ = 430 nm), red LED (λ = 670 nm), blue and red LED (70%:30%) and white LED (430–670 nm) on the growth and morphology of cultivated in vitro Dracocephalum forrestii shoot culture. It also examines the effects on bioactive phenolic compound production and photosynthetic pigment content, as well as on antioxidant enzyme activity (CAT, SOD, POD) and antioxidant properties. The most beneficial proliferation effect was observed under white LEDs (7.1 ± 2.1 shoots per explant). The white and blue lights stimulated the highest fresh weight gain, while red light induced the highest dry weight gain. The total phenolic acid content ranged from 13.824 ± 1.181 to 20.018 ± 801 mg g DW⁻¹ depending on light conditions. The highest content of rosmarinic acid was found in the control shoots (cultivated under fluorescent lamps), followed by culture grown under red light. All LED treatments, especially red and blue, increased salvianolic acid B content, and blue increased apigenin p-coumarylrhamnoside biosynthesis. The greatest ferric reduction activity was observed in shoots cultivated under red light, followed by blue; this is associated with the presence of the highest total phenol content, especially phenolic acids. Similarly, the highest DPPH radical scavenging potential was observed under red light followed by blue. This study proves that LEDs have emerged as significant support for directed in vitro propagation, taking advantage of specific stress responses on various light spectra. This study also showed how stress induced by different LED light spectra increases in Dracocephalum forrestii the synthesis of pharmacologically-active compounds. Hence, light stress may turn out to be a simpler alternative to metabolic engineering for improving the production of secondary metabolites of therapeutic value. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Secondary Metabolites in Plant Defence against Abiotic and Biotic Stresses)

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19 pages, 2706 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Interplay between Coumarin Accumulation, Iron Deficiency and Plant Resistance to Dickeya spp.

by Izabela Perkowska, Marta Potrykus, Joanna Siwinska, Dominika Siudem, Ewa Lojkowska and Anna Ihnatowicz

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(12), 6449; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22126449 - 16 Jun 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2739

Abstract

Coumarins belong to a group of secondary metabolites well known for their high biological activities including antibacterial and antifungal properties. Recently, an important role of coumarins in plant resistance to pathogens and their release into the rhizosphere upon pathogen infection was discovered. It is also well documented that coumarins play a crucial role in the Arabidopsis thaliana growth under Fe-limited conditions. However, the mechanisms underlying interplay between plant resistance, accumulation of coumarins and Fe status, remain largely unknown. In this work, we investigated the effect of both mentioned factors on the disease severity using the model system of Arabidopsis/Dickeya spp. molecular interactions. We evaluated the disease symptoms in Arabidopsis plants, wild-type Col-0 and its mutants defective in coumarin accumulation, grown in hydroponic cultures with contrasting Fe regimes and in soil mixes. Under all tested conditions, Arabidopsis plants inoculated with Dickeya solani IFB0099 strain developed more severe disease symptoms compared to lines inoculated with Dickeya dadantii 3937. We also showed that the expression of genes encoding plant stress markers were strongly affected by D. solani IFB0099 infection. Interestingly, the response of plants to D. dadantii 3937 infection was genotype-dependent in Fe-deficient hydroponic solution. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Secondary Metabolites in Plant Defence against Abiotic and Biotic Stresses)

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19 pages, 10171 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Nematicidal Volatiles from Bacillus atrophaeus GBSC56 Promote Growth and Stimulate Induced Systemic Resistance in Tomato against Meloidogyne incognita

by Muhammad Ayaz, Qurban Ali, Ayaz Farzand, Abdur Rashid Khan, Hongli Ling and Xuewen Gao

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(9), 5049; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22095049 - 10 May 2021

Cited by 59 | Viewed by 4075

Abstract

Bacillus volatiles to control plant nematodes is a topic of great interest among researchers due to its safe and environmentally friendly nature. Bacillus strain GBSC56 isolated from the Tibet region of China showed high nematicidal activity against M. incognita, with 90% mortality as compared with control in a partition plate experiment. Pure volatiles produced by GBSC56 were identified through gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Among 10 volatile organic compounds (VOCs), 3 volatiles, i.e., dimethyl disulfide (DMDS), methyl isovalerate (MIV), and 2-undecanone (2-UD) showed strong nematicidal activity with a mortality rate of 87%, 83%, and 80%, respectively, against M. incognita. The VOCs induced severe oxidative stress in nematodes, which caused rapid death. Moreover, in the presence of volatiles, the activity of antioxidant enzymes, i.e., SOD, CAT, POD, and APX, was observed to be enhanced in M. incognita-infested roots, which might reduce the adverse effect of oxidative stress-induced after infection. Moreover, genes responsible for plant growth promotion SlCKX1, SlIAA1, and Exp18 showed an upsurge in expression, while AC01 was downregulated in infested plants. Furthermore, the defense-related genes (PR1, PR5, and SlLOX1) in infested tomato plants were upregulated after treatment with MIV and 2-UD. These findings suggest that GBSC56 possesses excellent biocontrol potential against M. incognita. Furthermore, the study provides new insight into the mechanism by which GBSC56 nematicidal volatiles regulate antioxidant enzymes, the key genes involved in plant growth promotion, and the defense mechanism M. incognita-infested tomato plants use to efficiently manage root-knot disease. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Secondary Metabolites in Plant Defence against Abiotic and Biotic Stresses)

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Review

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20 pages, 1835 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Multifunctional Roles of Polyphenols in Plant-Herbivore Interactions

by Sukhman Singh, Ishveen Kaur and Rupesh Kariyat

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(3), 1442; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22031442 - 01 Feb 2021

Cited by 109 | Viewed by 7658

Abstract

There is no argument to the fact that insect herbivores cause significant losses to plant productivity in both natural and agricultural ecosystems. To counter this continuous onslaught, plants have evolved a suite of direct and indirect, constitutive and induced, chemical and physical defenses, and secondary metabolites are a key group that facilitates these defenses. Polyphenols—widely distributed in flowering plants—are the major group of such biologically active secondary metabolites. Recent advances in analytical chemistry and metabolomics have provided an opportunity to dig deep into extraction and quantification of plant-based natural products with insecticidal/insect deterrent activity, a potential sustainable pest management strategy. However, we currently lack an updated review of their multifunctional roles in insect-plant interactions, especially focusing on their insect deterrent or antifeedant properties. This review focuses on the role of polyphenols in plant-insect interactions and plant defenses including their structure, induction, regulation, and their anti-feeding and toxicity effects. Details on mechanisms underlying these interactions and localization of these compounds are discussed in the context of insect-plant interactions, current findings, and potential avenues for future research in this area. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Secondary Metabolites in Plant Defence against Abiotic and Biotic Stresses)

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