Lithium treatment induces a hypersensitive-like response in tobacco

• Published in: Planta Vol. 217; no. 3; pp. 417 - 424
• Main Authors: Naranjo, Miguel A., Romero, Carlos, Bellés, José M., Montesinos, Consuelo, Vicente, Oscar, Serrano, Ramón
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer-Verlag 01.07.2003; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Apoptosis; Apoptosis - drug effects; Biological and medical sciences; Biosynthesis; Calcium; Economic plant physiology; Ethylene production; Ethylenes - metabolism; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gentisates - metabolism; Inositols; Leaves; Lithium; Lithium - pharmacology; Mineral nutrition; Nicotiana - drug effects; Nicotiana - genetics; Nicotiana - metabolism; Nutrition. Photosynthesis. Respiration. Metabolism; Pathogens; Plant Leaves - drug effects; Plant Leaves - genetics; Plant Leaves - metabolism; Plant physiology and development; Plant Proteins - genetics; Plant Proteins - metabolism; Plants; RNA; Salicylates; Salicylic Acid - metabolism; Tobacco; Transgenic plants; Water and solutes. Absorption, translocation and permeability; Signal transduction; Dicotyledones; Hypersensitivity; Angiospermae; Ethylene; Lithium; Spermatophyta; Solanaceae; Pretreatment; Nicotiana tabacum
• ISSN: 0032-0935; 1432-2048
• DOI: 10.1007/s00425-003-1017-4

Treatment of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) plants with lithium induces the formation of necrotic lesions and leaf curling as in the case of incompatible pathogen interactions. Further similarities at the molecular level include accumulation of ethylene and of salicylic and gentisic acids, and induced expression of pathogenesis-related PR-P, PR5 and PR1 genes. With the exception of PR1 induction, lithium produced the same effects in transgenic tobacco plants that do not accumulate salicylate because of overexpression of the bacterial hydroxylase gene nahG. On the other hand, inhibition of ethylene biosynthesis with aminoethoxyvinylglycine prevented lithium-induced cell death and PR5 expression. These results suggest that lithium triggers a hypersensitive-like response where ethylene signalling is essential.