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Regulation of defence responses in avocado roots infected with Phytophthora cinnamomi (Rands)

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Abstract

Phytophthora cinnamomi occurs worldwide and has a host range in excess of 1,000 plant species. Avocados (Persea americana Mill) have been described as highly susceptible to this soil-borne pathogen. Here, the regulation of defence responses in avocado root seedlings inoculated with P. cinnamomi mycelia is described. A burst of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was observed 4 days after inoculation. The higher physiological concentration of H2O2 induced by P. cinnamomi on avocado roots had no effect on in vitro growth of the oomycete. Total phenols and epicathecin content showed a significant decrease, but lignin and pyocianidins exhibited no changes after inoculation. Also, increased nitric oxide (NO) production was observed 72 h after treatment. We studied the effects of one NO donor [sodium nitroprusside (SNP)], and one NO scavenger [2- to 4-carboxyphenyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazole-1-oxyl-3-oxide (CPTIO)] to determine the role of NO during root colonisation by P. cinnamomi mycelia. Pretreatment of the roots with CPTIO, but not with SNP, inhibited root colonisation suggesting an important role for NO production during the avocado–P. cinnamomi interaction. Our data suggest that although defence responses are activated in avocado roots in response to P. cinnamomi infection, these are not sufficient to avoid pathogen invasion.

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Abbreviations

APX:

Ascorbate peroxidase

CAT:

Catalase

CPTIO:

2- to 4-carboxyphenyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazole-1-oxyl-3-oxide

GPX:

Guaiacol peroxidase

H2O2 :

Hydrogen peroxide

MAMPs:

Microbe associated molecular patterns

NO:

Nitric oxide

O −2 :

Superoxide anion

PAMPs:

Pathogen associated molecular patterns

POD:

Peroxidase

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

SNP:

Sodium nitroprusside

SOD:

Superoxide dismutase

TBARS:

Thiobarbituric acid

XTT:

Sodium 3′ –[1-[phenylamino-carbonyl]-3,4-tetrazolium]-bis(4-methoxy-6nitro) benzene-sulfonic acid hydrate

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the Consejo de la Investigación Científica, U.M.S.H., and by the Consejo Estatal de Ciencia y Tecnología, Michoacán, México. The authors wish to thank Alfredo Saavedra-Molina (Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo) for critically reading this manuscript.

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  1. Instituto de Investigaciones Químico Biológicas, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Edif. B1, Ciudad Universitaria, 58040, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico

    Ernesto García-Pineda, Micaela Benezer-Benezer, Areli Gutiérrez-Segundo, Gerardo Rangel-Sánchez, Araceli Arreola-Cortés & Elda Castro-Mercado

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  1. Ernesto García-Pineda
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  2. Micaela Benezer-Benezer
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Correspondence to Ernesto García-Pineda.

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García-Pineda, E., Benezer-Benezer, M., Gutiérrez-Segundo, A. et al. Regulation of defence responses in avocado roots infected with Phytophthora cinnamomi (Rands). Plant Soil 331, 45–56 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-009-0225-5

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