New Phytologist (2019) 221, 2096-2111

Shaoqun Zhou, Ying K. Zhang, Karl A. Kremling, Yezhang Ding, John S. Bennett, Justin S. Bae, Dean K. Kim, Hayley H. Ackerman, Michael V. Kolomiets, Eric A. Schmelz, Frank C. Schroeder, Edward S. Buckler and Georg Jander (2019)
Ethylene signaling regulates natural variation in the abundance of antifungal acetylated diferuloylsucroses and Fusarium graminearum resistance in maize seedling roots
New Phytologist 221 (4), 2096-2111
Abstract: - The production and regulation of defensive specialized metabolites play a central role in pathogen resistance in maize (Zea mays) and other plants. Therefore, identification of genes involved in plant specialized metabolism can contribute to improved disease resistance.
- We used comparative metabolomics to identify previously unknown antifungal metabolites in maize seedling roots, and investigated the genetic and physiological mechanisms underlying their natural variation using quantitative trait locus mapping and comparative transcriptomics approaches.
- Two maize metabolites, smilaside A (3,6-diferuloyl-3',6'-diacetylsucrose) and smiglaside C (3,6-diferuloyl-2',3',6'-triacetylsucrose), were identified that could contribute to maize resistance against Fusarium graminearum and other fungal pathogens. Elevated expression of an ethylene signaling gene, ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE 2 (ZmEIN2), co-segregated with a decreased smilaside A : smiglaside C ratio. Pharmacological and genetic manipulation of ethylene availability and sensitivity in vivo indicated that, whereas ethylene was required for the production of both metabolites, the smilaside A : smiglaside C ratio was negatively regulated by ethylene sensitivity. This ratio, rather than the absolute abundance of these two metabolites, was important for maize seedling root defense against F. graminearum.
- Ethylene signaling regulates the relative abundance of the two F. graminearum-resistance-related metabolites and affects resistance against F. graminearum in maize seedling roots.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Michael Kolomiets, Georg Jander

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
resistance/tolerance/defence of host

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Fusarium graminearum	Maize/corn (Zea mays)