Hydroxylated Monoterpenes Act as Immune Amplifiers in Tomato Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens
Researchers found that hydroxylated monoterpenes (HMTPs), volatile compounds emitted by tomato plants during bacterial infection, mimic pathogen attack signals to activate the plant's immune system. The study shows these compounds trigger a self-reinforcing feedback loop that amplifies jasmonate-dependent immunity and stomatal defenses. This discovery reveals a previously unknown mechanism by which plants amplify their own antibacterial responses through volatile signaling.
A new study published on bioRxiv demonstrates that hydroxylated monoterpenes function as endogenous mimics of pathogen attack in tomato plants infected with Pseudomonas syringae. Using α-terpineol as a model compound, researchers showed that HMTPs activate multiple immune signaling pathways including MPK kinase, calcium, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) cascades, while promoting accumulation of jasmonate and salicylic acid—key plant defense hormones. Critically, the study reveals a self-amplifying mechanism: HMTPs biosynthesis depends on ROS and jasmonate signaling, yet HMTPs simultaneously promote their own further accumulation, creating a positive feedback loop. The researchers also demonstrated that these volatile compounds undergo chemical remodeling under oxidative conditions and that plants can convert labeled linalool into deuterated α-terpineol in planta, confirming volatile interconversion. Together, these findings establish HMTPs as dynamic amplifiers of plant immunity with roles in pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) signaling.
Limitations & open questions
The study's own limitations and open questions are not detailed in the abstract provided. Potential areas for future work might include: whether these findings generalize to other plant species or pathogen types, the ecological significance of volatile interconversion in field conditions, and the specific molecular receptors through which HMTPs are initially recognized by plant cells.
What different sources said
- bioRxivCenter
Hydroxylated monoterpenes mimic bacterial attack to trigger jasmonate-dependent self-amplifying immunity in tomato
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