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Enhanced transcriptome responses in herbivore-infested tea plants by the green leaf volatile (Z)-3-hexenol

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Abstract

Green leaf volatiles (GLVs) play a vital role in enhancing herbivore-associated defense responses, but the mechanism by which they precisely regulate such responses is not well understood. (Z)-3-Hexenol (z3HOL), an important component of GLVs, effectively activates the defense of tea plants (Camellia sinensis) against a tea geometrid (TG) Ectropis obliqua Prout. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms of defense activation by z3HOL, RNA-Sequencing was employed to investigate the effect of z3HOL on transcriptome responses to TG in tea plants. A total of 318 upregulated genes were identified, and expression of 10 unigenes was validated by quantitative real-time PCR. Among these 318 upregulated genes, 56 were defense-related, including 6 key enzyme genes in jasmonic acid, and ethylene biosynthesis, 24 signal transduction genes, and 12 insect-responsive transcription factors. Most of the defense-related genes are induced by JA, TG, or wounding treatments, suggesting that JA signaling plays a vital role in z3HOL-induced tea defense against TG.

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Abbreviations

ACC:

1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid

DEGs:

Differentially expressed genes

DGE:

Digital gene expression

GC–MS:

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

GLVs:

Green leaf volatiles

HIPVs:

Herbivore-induced plant volatiles

JA:

Jasmonic acid

MPKs:

Mitogen-activated protein kinases

PIs:

Proteinase inhibitors

PPO:

Polyphenol oxidase

qRT-PCR:

Quantitative real-time PCR

RH:

Relative air humidity

RLKs:

Receptor-like protein kinases

RNA-seq:

RNA sequencing

TFs:

Transcription factors

TG:

Tea geometrid

TPS:

Terpene synthase

XIPs:

Xylanase inhibitor proteins

z3HOL:

(Z)-3-Hexenol

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Acknowledgements

The study was jointly sponsored by the Special Fund for Agro-scientific Research in the Public Interest (201403030), the Central Public-interest Scientific Institution Basal Research Fund (no. 1610212016019), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31401758), and the Science and Technology Program of Zhejiang Province (2016C32026).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tea Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 310008, China

    Zhaojun Xin, Lingang Ge, Shenglong Chen & Xiaoling Sun

  2. Key Laboratory of Tea Biology and Resource Utilization of Ministry of Agriculture, Hangzhou, 310008, China

    Zhaojun Xin, Lingang Ge, Shenglong Chen & Xiaoling Sun

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  1. Zhaojun Xin
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  2. Lingang Ge
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  3. Shenglong Chen
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  4. Xiaoling Sun
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Correspondence to Xiaoling Sun.

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Xin, Z., Ge, L., Chen, S. et al. Enhanced transcriptome responses in herbivore-infested tea plants by the green leaf volatile (Z)-3-hexenol. J Plant Res 132, 285–293 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10265-019-01094-x

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