The 30th International Conference on Arabidopsis Research (ICAR 2019)

511 / 2019-03-01 11:12:21

Microbe- and host damage-associated molecular patterns trigger salt stress tolerance in Arabidopsis

PTI,MAMP,DAMP,salt tolerance,cross-talk,biotic-abiotic stress

Plenary track > Abiotic Stress

Plants cope with biotic and abiotic stressors in the environment via a process that remains elusive. Recognition of microbe/damage-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs/ DAMPs) and effectors leads to pattern-triggered immunity (PTI) and effector-triggered immunity (ETI), respectively. Here, we report that MAMPs/DAMPs recognition by pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) triggers salt stress tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana, a phenomenon designated as pattern-triggered salt tolerance (PTST). Seedlings pre-treated with the bacterial MAMPs flg22 and elf18 or the DAMPs Peps show enhanced salt tolerance compared to cognate PRR mutant or non-treated wild-type seedlings. We further show the requirements for PTI signaling components in PTST. Overexpressing Pep-Receptors PEPR1/2, without exogenous MAMPs/DAMPs application, also leads to the acquisition of osmo-tolerance following initial salt stress. Transcriptome and genetic analyses indicate that WRKY18/WRKY40 transcription factors contribute to PTST, in part by attenuating the expression of the defense regulator EDS1. Moreover, inoculation of non-pathogenic bacteria also confers salt tolerance through PRRs, pointing to the physiological relevance of bacterial MAMP sensing in PTST. Our findings indicate that PRRs facilitate plant adaptation to both biotic and abiotic stresses.