Source Publication (e.g., journal title)
Plant Biotechnology Journal
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2017
DOI
10.1111/pbi.12649
Abstract
Plant terpene synthase genes (TPSs) have roles in diverse biological processes. Here, we report the functional characterization of one member of the soybean TPS gene family, which was designated GmAFS. Recombinant GmAFS produced in Escherichia coli catalysed the formation of a sesquiterpene (E,E)-a-farnesene. GmAFS is closely related to (E,E)-a-farnesene synthase gene from apple, both phylogenetically and structurally. GmAFS was further investigated for its biological role in defence against nematodes and insects. Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) is the most important pathogen of soybean. The expression of GmAFS in a SCN-resistant soybean was significantly induced by SCN infection compared with the control, whereas its expression in a SCN-susceptible soybean was not changed by SCN infection. Transgenic hairy roots overexpressing GmAFS under the control of the CaMV 35S promoter were generated in an SCN-susceptible soybean line. The transgenic lines showed significantly higher resistance to SCN, which indicates that GmAFS contributes to the resistance of soybean to SCN. In soybean leaves, the expression of GmAFS was found to be induced by Tetranychus urticate (two-spotted spider mites). Exogenous application of methyl jasmonate to soybean plants also induced the expression of GmAFS in leaves. Using headspace collection combined with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis, soybean plants that were infested with T. urticae were shown to emit a mixture of volatiles with (E,E)-a-farnesene as one of the most abundant constituents. In summary, this study showed that GmAFS has defence roles in both below-ground and above-ground organs of soybean against nematodes and insects, respectively.
Recommended Citation
Jinguy Lin, Dan Wang, Xinlu Chen, Tobias G. Köllner, Mitra Mazarei, Hong Guo, Vincent R. Pantalone, Prakash Arelli, Charles Neal Stewart Jr, Ningning Wang, Feng Chen “An (E, E)-α-Farnesene Synthase Gene of Soybean has a Role in Defense Against Nematodes and is Involved in Synthesizing Insect-Induced Volatiles,” Plant Biotechnology Journal 15, 4 (2017), 510-519. doi: 10.1111/pbi.12649
Submission Type
Publisher's Version
Comments
This article was published openly thanks to the University of Tennessee Open Publishing Support Fund.
Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license.