Abstract

DIAZ-MARTINEZ, Juan M. et al. Chitosan derivatives induce local and distal expression of defence-related genes in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings. Agrociencia [online]. 2018, vol.52, n.4, pp.497-509. ISSN 2521-9766.

Chitosan and its derivatives are elicitors of defence responses in plants. The physical and chemical characteristics, like the molecular weight and acetylation degree determine the type of effect and specificity. Although chitosan-induced biochemical and enzymatic reactions in wheat (Triticum aestivum) are reported, the transcriptional activation of defensive markers by chitosan derivatives remains unaddressed. The hypothesis of our study was that the different structural features of chitosan derivatives would influence the transcriptional patterns related to protective responses in wheat. The aim of our study was to compare the local and systemic inductive properties of chitosan and chitooligosaccharides (COS) in wheat seedlings through the expression of the defence-related genes chitinase (CHI), β-1-3 glucanase (GLU) and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL). Chitosan and COS solutions were characterized by MALDI-TOF and applied by soil drench or foliar spray to seedlings grown under controlled conditions. Gene expression levels in the leaves of treated plants were analysed by RT-PCR. Different expression patterns were observed according to the gene evaluated and the type of elicitor. COS induced the local and distal expression of CHI and GLU, but decreased PAL; while chitosan increased the distal expression of CHI and GLU and the local and distal expression of PAL. Our results showed the capacity of chitosan and COS to differentially mediate transient transcriptional responses of defensive markers in wheat.

Keywords : chitinase; chitooligosaccharide; glucanase; phenylalanine ammonia-lyase; systemic resistance.

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