Induction of hypersensitive necrosis at high temperatures by generation of reactive oxygen forms in virus resistant tobacco

Abstract

Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv. Xanthi nc) resistant to Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) displays a hypersensitive response (HR) following virus infection, characterized by localized necrotic lesions around infection sites at ambient temperatures (e.g. 20°C). We have demonstrated that application of chemical compounds that generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as the riboflavin/methionine and glucose/glucose oxidase systems or H2O2 treatment induce HR-type necroses in leaves of Xanthi-nc tobacco infected with TMV even at high temperatures (30°C), when both necrosis and virus resistance are impaired. It was possible to suppress chemically induced HR-type necrotization at 30°C by application of antioxidants like superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). Importantly, high TMV levels at 30°C did not differ in infected plants, regardless of the presence or absence of HR-type necrotization. Levels of one of the ROS, superoxide (O2·-), activity of NADPH-oxidase and expression of a tobacco NADPH-oxidase gene responsible for O2·-production were significantly lower in leaves of infected and healthy Xanthi-nc tobacco at 30°C, as compared to 20°C. It is concluded that development of HR-type necroses caused by TMV infection depends on a certain level of superoxide and other ROS, while suppression of virus multiplication in resistant tobacco is associated with low temperature but seems to be independent of HR-type necrotization.