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Transcription factors of the NAC family are known to be involved in various developmental processes and in response to environmental stresses. Whereas NAC genes have been widely studied in response to abiotic stresses, little is known about their role in response to biotic stresses, especially in crops. Here, the first characterization of a Vitis vinifera L. NAC member, named VvNAC1, and involved in organ development and defence towards pathogens is reported. Expression profile analysis of VvNAC1 showed that its expression is closely associated with later stages of leaf, flower, and berry development, suggesting a role in plant senescence. Moreover, VvNAC1 expression is stimulated in Botrytis cinerea- or microbe-associated molecular pattern (MAMP)-infected berries or leaves. Furthermore, cold, wounding, and defence-related hormones such as salicylic acid, methyl jasmonate, ethylene, and abscisic acid are all able to induce VvNAC1 expression in grapevine leaves. VvNAC1-overexpressing Arabidopsis plants exhibit enhanced tolerance to osmotic, salt, and cold stresses and to B. cinerea and Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis pathogens. These plants present a modified pattern of defence gene markers (AtPR-1, AtPDF1.2, and AtVSP1) after stress application, suggesting that VvNAC1 is an important regulatory component of the plant signalling defence cascade. Collectively, these results provide evidence that VvNAC1 could represent a node of convergence regulating grapevine development and stress responses, including defence against necrotrophic and biotrophic pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are beneficial microorganisms that colonize the rhizosphere of many plant species and confer beneficial effects, such as an increase in plant growth. PGPR are also well known as inducers of systemic resistance to pathogens in plants. However, the molecular mechanisms involved locally after direct perception of these bacteria by plant cells still remain largely unknown. Burkholderia phytofirmans strain PsJN is an endophytic PGPR that colonizes grapevine and protects the plant against the grey mould disease caused by Botrytis cinerea. This report focuses on local defence events induced by B. phytofirmans PsJN after perception by the grapevine cells. It is demonstrated that, after addition to cell suspension cultures, the bacteria were tightly attaching to plant cells in a way similar to the grapevine non-host bacteria Pseudomonas syringae pv. pisi. B. phytofirmans PsJN perception led to a transient and monophasic extracellular alkalinization but no accumulation of reactive oxygen species or cell death were detected. By contrast, challenge with P. syringae pv. pisi induced a sustained and biphasic extracellular alkalinization, a two phases oxidative burst, and a HR-like response. Perception of the PGPR also led to the production of salicylic acid (SA) and the expression of a battery of defence genes that was, however, weaker in intensity compared with defence gene expression triggered by the non-host bacteria. Some defence genes up-regulated after B. phytofirmans PsJN challenge are specifically induced by exogenous treatment with SA or jasmonic acid, suggesting that both signalling pathways are activated by the PGPR in grapevine. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In grapevine, stimulation of defence responses was evidenced in response to various types of abiotic stresses in both leaves and berries, as revealed by the increasing expression of genes encoding defence-related proteins or the stimulation of their corresponding activities. However, the capability of inflorescences to respond to abiotic stresses has never been investigated. Therefore, plant defence reactions in response to UV-C irradiation were followed in inflorescences and young clusters focusing on both bunchstems (peduncle and pedicels) and developing flowers/berries from separated floral buds stage [Biologische Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt and CHemical industry (BBCH) stage 57] to groat-sized berries stage (BBCH 73). For this purpose, the expression of various genes coding for pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins (class I and III chitinases, Chi1b and CH3; β-1,3-glucanase, GLUC), an enzyme of the phenylpropanoid pathway (phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, PAL), and stilbene synthase (STS) was analysed in parallel with variations of chitinase activity and the accumulation of the phytoalexin resveratrol. Multiple defence responses were induced in bunchstems of both inflorescences and clusters following UV-C treatment. First, expression of genes encoding PR proteins was stimulated and chitinase activity was enhanced. Secondly, PAL and STS expression increased in association with resveratrol accumulation. Amazingly, none of the tested defence processes was induced in grapevine flowers following UV-C exposure, whatever the stage analysed. Similarly, in berries at fruit set, induction of gene expression was weak and neither an increase in chitinase activity nor resveratrol synthesis was noticed. However, in groat-sized berries, responsiveness to UV-C increased, as revealed by the induction of CH3, PAL, and STS expression, together with resveratrol accumulation. The differential responsiveness between bunchstems, flowers, and berries is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The effects of the two botryticides, fludioxonil (fdx) and fenhexamid (fhd), were investigated on grapevine leaves ( Vitis vinifera L. cv. Pinot noir) following photosynthesis and defense mechanisms. Treatments were carried out in vineyard at the end of flowering. Phytotoxicity of both fungicides was evaluated by measuring variations of leaf photosynthetic parameters and correlated expression of photosynthesis-related genes. Results demonstrated that similar decrease in photosynthesis was caused by fdx and fhd applications. Moreover, the mechanism leading to photosynthesis alteration seems to be the same for both fungicides. Stomatal limitation to photosynthetic gas exchange did not change following treatments indicating that inhibition of photosynthesis was mostly attributed to non-stomatal factors. Nevertheless, fungicides-induced depression of photosynthesis was related neither to a decrease in Rubisco carboxylation efficiency and in the capacity for regeneration of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate nor to loss in PSII activity. However, fdx and fhd treatments generated repression of genes encoding proteins involved in the photosynthetic process. Indeed, decreased photosynthesis was coupled with repression of PsbP subunit of photosystem II ( psbP1), chlorophyll a/ b binding protein of photosystem I ( cab) and Rubisco small subunit ( rbcS) genes. A repression of these genes may participate in the photosynthesis alteration. To our knowledge, this is the first study of photosynthesis-related gene expression following fungicide stress. In the meantime, defense responses were followed by measuring chitinase activity and expression of varied defense-related genes encoding proteins involved in phenylpropanoid synthesis ( PAL) or octadecanoid synthesis ( LOX), as well as pathogenesis-related protein ( Chi4C). No induction of defense was observed in botryticides-treated leaves. To conclude, the photosynthesis is affected without any triggering of plant defense responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellodextrins (CD), water-soluble derivatives of cellulose composed of β-1,4 glucoside residues, have been shown to induce a variety of defence responses in grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) cells. The larger oligomers of CD rapidly induced transient generation of H2O2 and elevation in free cytosolic calcium, followed by a differential expression of genes encoding key enzymes of the phenylpropanoid pathway and pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins as well as stimulation of chitinase and β-1,3 glucanase activities. Most of these defence reactions were also induced by linear β-1,3 glucans (βGlu) and α-1,4 oligogalacturonides (OGA) of different degree of polymerization (DP), but the intensity of some reactions induced by CD was different when compared with βGlu and OGA effects. Moreover, desensitization assays using H2O2 production showed that cells treated with CD remained fully responsive to a second application of OGA, suggesting a different mode of perception of these oligosaccharides by grape cells. None of CD, βGlu, or OGA induced HSR gene expression nor did they induce cell death. In accordance with elicitor activity in grapevine cells, CD-incubated leaves challenged with Botrytis cinerea also resulted in a significant reduction of the disease. Data suggest that CD could operate via other distinct reaction pathways than βGlu and OGA. They also highlight the requirement of a specific DP for each oligosaccharide to induce the defence response. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]