Mediation of JA signalling in glandular trichomes by the woolly/SlMYC1 regulatory module improves pest resistance in tomato.

ABSTRACT: Almost all plants form trichomes, which protect them against insect herbivores by forming a physical barrier and releasing chemical repellents. Glandular trichomes produce a variety of specialized defensive metabolites, including volatile terpenes. Previous studies have shown that the defence hormone jasmonic acid (JA) affects trichome development and induces terpene synthases (TPSs) but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we characterized a loss-of-function allele of the HD-ZIP IV transcription factor woolly (wo) and analysed its role in mediating JA signalling in tomato. We showed that knockout of wo led to extensive trichome defects, including structural and functional changes in type VI glandular trichomes, and a dramatic reduction in terpene levels. We further fo

SUBMITTER: Hua B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7868972 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature