Priming of defense-related genes in Brassica oleracea var. capitata using concentrated metabolites produced by Rhizobium tropici CIAT 899.

To verify the potential of metabolites extracted from Rhizobium tropici to trigger the priming of defense responses in cruciferous plants, we analyzed the expression of defense-related genes by qRT-PCR. Brassica oleracea var. capitata, susceptible to Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris, were grown in greenhouse conditions. At 18 days after sowing, plants were inoculated with 1 mL of 1% concentrated metabolites produced by R. tropici (CM-RT) in the root. In a second experiment, leaves were sprayed with 1 mL of a solution containing 1% CM-RT. Aerial and root tissue were collected separately at 0 (non-treated control condition), 24, and 48 h after application, submitted to RNA extraction and gene expression analysis by qRT-PCR. The results showed that, after root treatment with CM-RT, most evaluated genes were upregulated at 24 h after application and downregulated at 48 h after application in roots, while in leaves, genes were downregulated both at 24 and 48 h after application. On the other hand, leaf treatment with CM-RT showed that most evaluated genes in leaves and roots were upregulated at 24 and 48 h after application. These results indicate that the effect of CM-RT applied in roots seems restricted to the applied region and is not sustained, while the application in leaves results in a more systemic response and maintenance of the effect of CM-RT for a longer period. The results obtained in this study emphasize the biotechnological potential of using metabolites of R. tropici as an elicitor of active defense responses in plants.

Genotype-dependent changes of gene expression during somatic embryogenesis in oil palm hybrids (Elaeis oleifera x E. guineensis).

To understand the molecular processes triggered during the different steps of somatic embryogenesis (SE) in oil palm, the expression of 19 genes associated to SE identified in proteomic and transcriptomic studies was investigated by qRT-PCR. To evaluate the differential expression of these genes, two interspecific hybrid genotypes (Elaeis oleifera x Elaeis guineensis) contrasting for the acquisition of embryogenic competence were used. Aclorophyllated leaves of both hybrids, one responsive (B351733) and the other non-responsive (B352933) to SE were submitted to callus induction and collected at different time points: 0 (before induction), 14, 30, 90 and 150 days of callus induction (doi). The results obtained showed that all evaluated genes were downregulated at 14 doi in the responsive genotype when compared to the non-responsive. It was also possible to observe that most of the genes changed their expression behavior at 30 doi and were upregulated thereafter until 150 doi, with the exception of the pathogenesis-related PRB1-3-like (PRB1-3) gene, which did not show differential expression at 30 doi and was downregulated at 90 and 150 doi when compared to the non-responsive hybrid. These results indicate that 30 doi is a turning point in gene expression, probably associated to embryogenic competence acquisition. We also show that the expression behavior of the responsive genotype is more stable than that of the non-responsive when the different induction time points are compared to 0 doi (before induction). Moreover, the results obtained in this study corroborate our hypothesis that the regulation of genes involved in the control of oxidative stress and energy metabolism are crucial for the acquisition of embryogenic competence in oil palm.