The abscisic acid receptor gene VvPYL4 positively regulates grapevine resistance to Plasmopara viticola

• Published in: Plant cell, tissue and organ culture Vol. 142; no. 3; pp. 483 - 492
• Main Authors: Liu, Li, Liu, Chang-Yuan, Wang, Hui, Yu, Shu-Yi, Guan, Tian-Shu, Huang, Yu-Fei, Li, Rui-Chun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01-09-2020; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Abscisic acid; Airborne microorganisms; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Cultivars; Cultivation; Cytoplasm; Downy mildew; Fruit cultivation; Gene silencing; Genes; Hormones; Life Sciences; Localization; Original Article; Plant Genetics and Genomics; Plant Pathology; Plant Physiology; Plant Sciences; Plant stress; Plasmopara viticola; Receptors; Signal transduction; Signaling; Tobacco; Transcription; Viruses; Defense mechanisms; Abscisic acid receptor; ABA signaling pathway; Virus-induced gene silencing
• ISSN: 0167-6857; 1573-5044
• DOI: 10.1007/s11240-020-01872-9

Downy mildew is one of the most serious diseases threatening grapevine cultivation. The PYR/PYL/RCAR proteins, which act as abscisic acid (ABA) receptors, are multifunctional, highly conserved, and reportedly play a crucial role in plant stress resistance in the ABA signaling pathway. In this study, we cloned a putative abscisic acid receptor gene,
VvPYL4
, from the ‘Beta’ grapevine cultivar. An analysis of the subcellular localization demonstrated that overexpressed VvPYL4 was localized in both the cytoplasm and the nucleus. The resistance of grapevine cultivars to downy mildew increased after the application of the exogenous hormones MeJA and ABA. The expression of
VvPYL4
was significantly induced when exposed to
Plasmopara viticola
, MeJA, and ABA. The transcript of the
VvPYL4
gene in ‘Beta’ grapevine leaves treated with tobacco rattle virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) was significantly down-regulated. Silencing
VvPYL4
had a slight effect on
P. viticola
resistance. Furthermore, silencing
VvPYL4
significantly altered the transcripts of ABA and JA responsive genes, including the ABA signaling pathway-related genes
ABF1, SnRK2.2
,
and PP2C2,
as well as the genes related to the JA signaling pathway,
MYC2
,
JAR1
, and
JAZ
. Altogether, the data provide new evidence that
VvPYL4
positively regulates grapevine response to downy mildew. This study also discusses the regulation mechanism of
VvPYL4
on ABA and JA signaling transduction. Finally, these results provide a basis for additional research on the mechanisms behind grapevine resistance to downy mildew.
Key message
Silencing
VvPYL4
impaired resistance to
P. viticola
, and this was associated with inhibited the expression of the ABA and JA signaling pathway-related genes.
P. viticola
, MeJA, and ABA induced the up-regulated expression of
VvPYL4
.