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Accumulation of terpenoid phytoalexins in maize roots is associated with drought tolerance.
Vaughan, Martha M; Christensen, Shawn; Schmelz, Eric A; Huffaker, Alisa; McAuslane, Heather J; Alborn, Hans T; Romero, Maritza; Allen, Leon Hartwell; Teal, Peter E A.
Affiliation
  • Vaughan MM; Bacterial Foodborne Pathogens and Mycology, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Peoria, IL, 61604, USA.
  • Christensen S; Chemistry Research Unit, Center of Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Gainesville, FL, 32608, USA.
  • Schmelz EA; Chemistry Research Unit, Center of Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Gainesville, FL, 32608, USA.
  • Huffaker A; Chemistry Research Unit, Center of Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Gainesville, FL, 32608, USA.
  • McAuslane HJ; Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA.
  • Alborn HT; Chemistry Research Unit, Center of Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Gainesville, FL, 32608, USA.
  • Romero M; Chemistry Research Unit, Center of Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Gainesville, FL, 32608, USA.
  • Allen LH; Chemistry Research Unit, Center of Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Gainesville, FL, 32608, USA.
  • Teal PE; Chemistry Research Unit, Center of Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Gainesville, FL, 32608, USA.
Plant Cell Environ ; 38(11): 2195-207, 2015 Nov.
Article in En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25392907
Maize (Zea mays) production, which is of global agro-economic importance, is largely limited by herbivore pests, pathogens and environmental conditions, such as drought. Zealexins and kauralexins belong to two recently identified families of acidic terpenoid phytoalexins in maize that mediate defence against both pathogen and insect attacks in aboveground tissues. However, little is known about their function in belowground organs and their potential to counter abiotic stress. In this study, we show that zealexins and kauralexins accumulate in roots in response to both biotic and abiotic stress including, Diabrotica balteata herbivory, Fusarium verticillioides infection, drought and high salinity. We find that the quantity of drought-induced phytoalexins is positively correlated with the root-to-shoot ratio of different maize varieties, and further demonstrate that mutant an2 plants deficient in kauralexin production are more sensitive to drought. The induction of phytoalexins in response to drought is root specific and does not influence phytoalexin levels aboveground; however, the accumulation of phytoalexins in one tissue may influence the induction capacity of other tissues.
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Full text: 1 Collection: 01-internacional Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Stress, Physiological / Terpenes / Zea mays / Droughts Type of study: Risk_factors_studies Language: En Journal: Plant Cell Environ Journal subject: BOTANICA Year: 2015 Type: Article Affiliation country: United States

Full text: 1 Collection: 01-internacional Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Stress, Physiological / Terpenes / Zea mays / Droughts Type of study: Risk_factors_studies Language: En Journal: Plant Cell Environ Journal subject: BOTANICA Year: 2015 Type: Article Affiliation country: United States