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Acyl-Homoserine Lactone from Plant-Associated Pseudomonas sp. Influences Solanum lycopersicum Germination and Root Growth

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Abstract

It is known that plant and associated bacteria coevolved, but just now the roles of chemical signaling compounds in these intricate relationships have been systematically studied. Many Gram-negative bacteria produce N-acyl-L-homoserine lactones (AHL), chemical signals used in quorum-sensing bacterial communications mechanisms. In recent years, it has been shown that these compounds may also influence the development of plants, acting as allelochemicals, in still not well understood eukaryot-prokaryot interactions. In the present work, a quorum-sensing molecule produced by the tomato associated bacterium Pseudomonas sp. was characterized and its effects on germination and growth of tomato seedlings were accessed. The chemical study of the bacterium extract led to the identification of N-3-oxo-dodecanoyl-L-homoserine lactone (1), using gas chromatography coupled to electron impact mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and ultra-high resolution Qq-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHR-QqTOF-MS) equipped with an electrospray ionization source (ESI). The synthetic compound was tested at different concentrations in tomato to evaluate its effects on seed germination and seedlings root growth. Inhibition of tomato seed germination and root growth were observed in the presence of micromolar concentrations of the compound 1. Scanning electron microscopy evidenced morphological alterations on roots in the presence of the compound, with reduction of growth, impaired root hairs development and cracks in the rhizodermis.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Coordenadoria de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (Capes), and Fundação Araucária de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico do Paraná (1.094.4056; conv. 02/2017).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, State University of Maringá, Av. Colombo 5790, Maringá, Paraná, 87020-900, Brazil

    Nágela P. Ferreira, Lucas U. R. Chiavelli, Diego L. Lucca, Silvana M. O. Santin & Armando M. Pomini

  2. Department of Biology, State University of Maringá, Av. Colombo 5790, Maringá, Paraná, 87020-900, Brazil

    Gabriel R. Ximenez & Lindamir H. Pastorini

  3. Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, State University of Londrina, Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid, Londrina, Paraná, 86057-970, Brazil

    Mónica Y. A. Zuluaga & André L. M. de Oliveira

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  1. Nágela P. Ferreira
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  2. Gabriel R. Ximenez
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  3. Lucas U. R. Chiavelli
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  4. Diego L. Lucca
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  5. Silvana M. O. Santin
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  8. Lindamir H. Pastorini
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  9. Armando M. Pomini
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Correspondence to Armando M. Pomini.

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Ferreira, N.P., Ximenez, G.R., Chiavelli, L.U.R. et al. Acyl-Homoserine Lactone from Plant-Associated Pseudomonas sp. Influences Solanum lycopersicum Germination and Root Growth. J Chem Ecol 46, 699–706 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-020-01186-2

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