Purification and characterization of proline/hydroxyproline-rich glycoprotein from pearl millet coleoptiles infected with downy mildew pathogen Sclerospora graminicola

Hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins (HRGPs) are important plant cell wall structural components, which are also involved in response to pathogen attack. In pearl millet, deposition and cross-linking of HRGPs in plant cell walls was shown to contribute to the formation of resistance barriers against the phytopathogenic oomycete Sclerospora graminicola. In the present study, the purification and characterization of HRGPs that accumulated in coleoptiles of pearl millet seedlings in response to S. graminicola inoculation has been carried out. Periodic acid Schiff's staining revealed that the purified protein was a glycoprotein. The protein to carbohydrate ratio was determined to be 95.5%:4.5% (w/w). Proline amounted for 20 mol% of the total amino acids as indicated by amino acid composition analysis. The isolated protein had a pI of 9.8 and was shown to be composed of subunits of 27, 17, and 14 kDa. Cross reactivity with the monoclonal antibody MAC 265 and the presence of the signature amino acid sequence, PVYK, strongly suggested to classify the purified glycoprotein as a member of the P/HRGPs class. In the presence of horseradish peroxidase and H2O2 the purified glycoprotein served as a substrate for oxidative cross-linking processes.     

Hypersensitive response, cell death and histochemical localisation of hydrogen peroxide in host and non-host seedlings infected with the downy mildew pathogen Sclerospora graminicola

Hypersensitive response, cell death and release of hydrogen peroxide as measures of host and non‐host defense mechanisms upon inoculation with the downy mildew pathogen Sclerospora graminicola were studied histochemically at the light microscopy level. The materials consisted of coleoptile tissues of the highly susceptible (cv. HB3), highly resistant (cv. IP18293) and induced resistant pearl millet host seedlings and non‐host sorghum (cv. SGMN10/8) and cotyledon of french bean (cv. S9). Resistance up to 80% protection against the downy mildew pathogen was induced in the highly susceptible HB3 cultivar of pearl millet by treating the seeds with 2% aqueous leaf extract of Datura metel for 3 h. Time course study with the pathogen inoculated highly resistant pearl millet cultivar revealed the appearance of hypersensitive response in 20% of seedlings as necrotic spots as early as 2 h after inoculation. In contrast, a similar reaction was observed in the highly susceptible pearl millet cultivar only 8 h after inoculation with the pathogen. In induced resistant seedlings, appearance of hypersensitive response was recorded 4 h after inoculation. Delayed hypersensitive response was observed in both the non‐host species at 10 h after inoculation. Hypersensitive response in the seedlings of the highly resistant pearl millet cultivar 24 h after inoculation showed 100% hypersensitive response, which was not observed in susceptible and non‐host species, although the induced resistant seedlings showed 90% hypersensitive response after that period of time. Cell death in the tissues of the test seedlings was also observed to change with time. Statistical analysis revealed that the tissues of highly resistant pearl millet seedlings required 2.9 h to attain 50% cell death. Tissues of induced resistant and highly susceptible pearl millet seedlings required 4.65 and 6.50 h respectively. In non‐hosts, 50% cell death was not recorded. Quantification of hydrogen peroxide in the tissue periplasmic spaces of the test seedlings revealed 2.94 h as the time required for 50% hydrogen peroxide accumulation in the tissues of highly resistant pearl millet seedlings. Tissues of induced resistant and highly susceptible pearl millet seedlings needed 3.76 and 5.5 h respectively. Fifty percent hydrogen peroxide localisation in non‐hosts could not be recorded. These results suggested the involvement of hydrogen peroxide, cell death and hypersensitive response in pearl millet host defense against S. graminicola.     

Characterization of a hydroxyproline-rich glycoprotein in pearl millet and its differential expression in response to the downy mildew pathogen <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sclerospora graminicola</Emphasis>

A monoclonal antibody, JIM 20, derived against an extensin type of hydroxyproline-rich glycoprotein (HRGP) from pea, showed high affinity for HRGP in pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.]. Electrophoretic separation of Tris–SDS extracted proteins from suspension cells of pearl millet revealed a range of PM-HRGP polypeptides having a glycan epitope, which reacted with JIM 20. A high molecular mass band, probably an HRGP aggregate or polymer, and a few low molecular mass polypeptides were recognized by JIM 20 during Western blot analysis. Treatment of pearl millet suspension cells with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of an endogenous peroxidase resulted in insolubilization of HRGP polypeptides with molecular weights between 45 and 33 kDa. To investigate the gene coding for an extensin type of HRGP, a fosmid-based genomic library of pearl millet having a fourfold genome coverage was constructed. A partial sequence of 378 bp of an HRGP gene was obtained by PCR amplification of pearl millet DNA with a primer pair designed from the conserved regions of monocotyledon extensin type of HRGPs. Screening the genomic library using the homologous probe developed from the 378-bp PCR product resulted in the isolation of five fosmid clones. Restriction mapping of these fosmids resulted in an 11.8-kb region around an HRGP gene in pearl millet. The newly characterized gene, PM-HRGP, had all the characteristic features of a monocotyledon extensin type of HRGP. An intron at the 3′ untranslated region of the gene was identified by cDNA cloning. Differential expression of the PM-HRGP gene was observed during compatible and incompatible interactions of pearl millet with the downy mildew pathogen Sclerospora graminicola (Sacc) Schroet. Induced expression of the gene was observed only in case of an incompatible interaction.     

Isodityrosine cross-linking mediates insolubilization of cell walls in Chlamydomonas.

Enzymatic removal of the cell wall induces vegetative Chlamydomonas reinhardtii cells to transcribe wall genes and synthesize new hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins (HRGPs) related to the extensins found in higher plant cell walls. A cDNA expression library made from such induced cells was screened with antibodies to an oligopeptide containing the (SP)x repetitive domains found in Chlamydomonas wall proteins. One of the selected cDNAs encodes an (SP)x-rich polypeptide that also displays a repeated YGG motif. Ascorbate, a peroxidase inhibitor, and tyrosine derivatives were shown to inhibit insolubilization of both the vegetative and zygotic cell walls of Chlamydomonas, suggesting that oxidative cross-linking of tyrosines is occurring. Moreover, insolubilization of both walls was concomitant with a burst in H2O2 production and in extracellular peroxidase activity. Finally, both isodityrosine and dityrosine were found in hydrolysates of the insolubilized vegetative wall layer. We propose that the formation of tyrosine cross-links is essential to Chlamydomonas HRGP insolubilization.     

Infection biology and defence responses in sorghum against Colletotrichum sublineolum

Aims:  To investigate the infection biology of Colletotrichum sublineolum (isolate CP2126) and defence responses in leaves of resistant (SC146), intermediately resistant (SC326) and susceptible (BTx623) sorghum genotypes.
Methods and Results:  Infection biology and defence responses were studied quantitatively by light microscopy, H₂O₂ accumulation by DAB staining and HRGP accumulation by immunological methods. Inhibition of conidial germination and appressorium formation may represent prepenetration defence responses on the leaf surface. Inducible defence responses in the resistant genotypes included decreases in formation of appressoria as well as accumulation of H₂O₂, HRGPs and phytoalexins. Concomitant with these inducible responses, fungal growth was stopped during or just after penetration in genotypes SC146 and SC326. High levels of H₂O₂ accumulating at late infection stages (5 days after inoculation) in the susceptible genotype BTx623 correlated with necrosis and tissue degeneration.
Conclusions:  The early accumulation of H₂O₂ and HRGPs indicates roles in defence whereas the late accumulation in genotype BTx623 correlated with successful pathogenesis.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  The fact that there is a significant correlation between induced accumulation of H₂O₂, papilla formation and cell wall cross-linking, as evidenced by HRGP accumulation, and cessation of pathogen growth in resistant genotypes may help exploit host resistance in sorghum.     

Sclerospora graminicola- and arachidonic acid-induced autofluorescence in downy mildew resistant and susceptible genotypes of pearl millet

Autofluorescence of downy mildew resistant and susceptible cells of pearl millet seedlings undergoing hypersensitive reaction (HR) upon Sclerospora graminicola-inoculation and arachidonic acid (AA)-treatment was studied. Two-day-old seedlings of a highly resistant (IP 18296) and a highly susceptible (23D₂B) genotype of pearl millet were either inoculated with zoospore suspension of S. graminicola or treated with AA for 24 h. The coleoptiles with hypersensitive necrotic spots were processed by the standard procedure, and the tissues were subjected to fluorescence microscopy. A differential accumulation of autofluor-escent compounds in resistant and susceptible pearl millet genotypes was observed with most accumulation occurring in resistant cells treated with AA. The variation in the degree of fluorescence and the spatial accumulation of autofluorescent compounds among the two inoculated/treated genotypes is discussed.     

Time-course study of the accumulation of hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins in root cells of susceptible and resistant tomato plants infected byFusarium oxysporum f. sp.radicis-lycopersici

The accumulation of hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins (HRGPs) in cell walls of dicotyledonous plants is thought to be involved in the defense response to pathogens. An antiserum raised against deglycosylated HRGPs from melon was used for studying the subcellular localization of these glycoproteins in susceptible and resistant tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) root tissues infected by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. radicis-lycopersici. A time-course of HRGP accumulation revealed that these glycoproteins increased earlier and to a higher extent in resistant than in susceptible cultivars. In the compatible interaction, increase in HRGPs was largely correlated with pathogen invasion and appeared to occur as a result of wall damage. In the incompatible interaction, HRGPs accumulated in the walls of uninvaded cells, thus indicating a possible role in the protection against fungal penetration. The occurrence of substantial amounts of HRGPs in papillae, known to be physical barriers formed in response to infection, and in intercellular spaces provides additional support to the concept that such glycoproteins play an important role in disease resistance.     

Immunocytochemical Localization of Cell Wall-Bound Thionins and Hydroxyproline-Rich Glycoproteins in Fusarium culmorum-Infected Wheat Spikes

Abstract In the present study, a rabbit polyclonal antiserum against cell wall‐bound thionins from barley leaf and a mouse monoclonal antibody against hydroxyproline‐rich glycoproteins (HRGP) from maize were used to investigate the subcellular localization of thionins and HRGP or extensins in Fusarium culmorum‐infected wheat spikes by means of the immunogold labelling technique. The proteins were localized in cell walls of different tissues including the lemma, ovary and rachis, while the cytoplasm and organelles in these tissues showed almost no labelling. However, accumulation of thionins and HRGP in infected wheat spikes of resistant wheat cultivars differed distinctly from those of susceptible cultivars. Compared with the healthy tissues, labelling densities for the two types of proteins in cell walls of the infected lemma, ovary and rachis increased only slightly in the susceptible cultivar Agent, while in cell walls of infected tissues of the resistant cultivar Arina labelling densities of thionins and HRGP increased markedly. These findings indicated that accumulation of thionins and HRGP in cell walls of infected resistant wheat spikes may be involved in defence responses to infection and in spreading of F. culmorum.     

Al-induced cell wall hydroxyproline-rich glycoprotein accumulation is involved in alleviating Al toxicity in rice

Cell wall components such as pectin and hemicelluloses have been proposed to be involved in aluminum resistance mechanisms in plants. However, whether hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins (HRGPs), one of the most abundant proteins of the cell walls, are involved in Al resistance mechanisms remains elusive. In this study, two rice cultivars Xiushui 03 (Al resistant) and Xiushui 128 (Al sensitive) significantly differing in Al resistance were identified. In the absence of Al, no significant difference was observed in contents of glycoproteins and hydroxyproline in cell wall fractions of these two cultivars. At the early stage of Al toxicity, glycoproteins and hydroxyproline were significantly induced in these two cultivars, but levels of their accumulation in cell walls were much higher in cv. Xiushui 03 than in cv. Xiushui 128. At the late stage of Al toxicity, their accumulation in cell walls dramatically decreased in cv. Xiushui 128 and, however, still kept a high level in cv. Xiushui 03. The finding that Al-induced changes of glycoproteins and hydroxyproline were completely consistent indicates that Al-induced glycoproteins are HRGPs. Further observation utilizing transmission electron microscope showed that HRGPs were greatly accumulated in cell walls leading to thickening of cell walls in cv. Xiushui 03, however, HRGPs and cell walls greatly decreased in cv. Xiushui 128. These data suggest that Al-induced HRGP accumulation in cell walls is involved in alleviating Al toxicity in rice.     

Accumulation of pearl millet downy mildew resistance in Mali--2006 results

Few crop breeding programs today are breeding crops in their areas of diversity and origin. This study reports on a Malian breeding program in an area of genetic diversity. It has the objective to accumulate resistance to major populations of Sclerospora graminicola (= Sg) with modern breeding and selection methods. This study is part of the development of pearl millet top cross hybrids, with a reduced plant height, Sg-resistance (= resistance to pearl millet downy mildew) and 'stay green' at physiological maturity. The parent entries, among other relevant characteristics, were selected for a high level of resistance (good sources of resistance) making use of a combination of artificial young plant screening methods and single location field testing, in 1998. Pedigree selection in F1 to F4 was from 1999 to 2002. Its synthetics and composites were selected for low S. graminicola-levels, in 2003 to 2005 and in 2003 and 2006 tested for S. graminicola-resistance together with 5 checks at two Locations differing in S. graminicola-virulence responses. The 2006 test seemingly indicated the expected quadratic checks, whereby entry 1 is resistant at location 1 and susceptible at location 2 and entry 2 is susceptible at location 1 but resistant at location 2. This quadratic check is indicating differences in virulence between the two S. grominicola-populations and also an adaptation of the pathogen populations on the newly accumulated genes for resistance in the host. It is also indicating that one or more genes for resistance against each of the two populations were accumulated. A good number of synthetics and composites combined low S. graminicola-incidences with relatively high yields and some had 'stay green' at physiological maturity. One too late entry seemingly had immunity. The 2006 results indicate presence of several S. graminicola-resistance genes in the parent entries and accumulation of one or more genes in certain derived entries, and were obtained in combination with reduced plant height and for the first time in pearl millet also with 'stay green' at physiological maturity. The accumulation of S. graminicola-resistance is expected to increase the chance for regional or global 'stay green' hybrids for grain (medium tall) and fodder (tall).     

Arachidonic acid-induced hypersensitive cell death as an assay of downy mildew resistance in pearl millet

Arachidonic acid (AA) induces hypersensitive response (HR) on coleoptile/root regions of two-day-old pearl millet seedlings. The response is comparable to the HR induced by the downy mildew pathogen, Sclerospora graminicola. A time gap in the appearance of cell necrosis among genotypes of pearl millet was related to the degree of resistance to downy mildew. Based on the time required for the development of necrotic spots induced by AA, the pearl millet genotypes were categorised as highly resistant/resistant (HR in 3–6 h), susceptible (HR in 7–12 h) and highly susceptible (HR in 13 h and above). The percentage disease incidence in each genotype was compared with the time required for the development of AA-induced HR. The appearance of hypersensitive cell necrosis was rapid in genotypes having high resistance to downy mildew and was slow in genotypes with high susceptibility. This simple method of screening various pearl millet genotypes in the absence of the pathogen aids in identifying the downy mildew resistant/susceptible host cultivars without the risk of introducing the virulent race of the pathogen.     

Germin Gene Expression Is Induced in Wheat Leaves by Powdery Mildew Infection

Germin gene expression is induced in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) leaves by powdery mildew (Erysiphe graminis f. sp. tritici) infection. Germin is a protein marker for early cereal development and is an oxalate oxidase, an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of oxalate to CO2 and H2O2. The induction of germin gene expression by powdery mildew infection is consistent with the importance of H2O2 to plant defense and identifies a mechanism for the elevation of H2O2 levels in wheat leaves. Germin mRNA levels increased 2 d after inoculation of seedlings with powdery mildew and continued to increase throughout an 8-d time course. The increase in accumulation of germin mRNA was accompanied by an increase in the germin oligomer, which reached maximal levels by d 6. An increase in oxalate oxidase activity paralleled germin oligomer accumulation. Germin gene expression was induced in a relatively resistant cultivar (Bobwhite) as well as in a susceptible cultivar (Cheyenne), suggesting that the induction of germin gene expression is an indicator of powdery mildew infection rather than cultivar resistance.     

Formation of Di-Isodityrosine and Loss of Isodityrosine in the Cell Walls of Tomato Cell-Suspension Cultures Treated with Fungal Elicitors or H2O2

About 84% of the hydroxyproline residues in a cell culture of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum x Lycopersicon peruvianum) were present in phenol-inextractable (i.e. covalently wall-bound) material. Treatment of the cells with any of three fungal elicitors (wall fragments from Phytophthora megasperma and Pythium aphanidermatum and xylanase from Aureobasidium pullulans) or with 1 mM H2O2 had little effect on the quantity of phenolinextractable hydroxyproline per milligram of freeze-dried cells. However, each treatment induced a decrease in the content of phenol-inextractable isodityrosine (Idt) residues. Each treatment, except with the P. megasperma fragments, also induced an increase in phenol-inextractable di- (Di-Idt). The increase in Di-Idt partly accounted for the loss of Idt. We conclude that the elicitors and H2O2 acted to reinforce the existing cross-linking of cell wall (glyco)proteins by evoking oxidative coupling reactions to convert Idt to Di-Idt plus unidentified products. The promotion of cross-linking by elicitor treatment is proposed to be a defensive response that restricts the penetration of pathogens.     

Histo-chemical changes induced by PGPR during induction of resistance in pearl millet against downy mildew disease

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria Bacillus pumilus strain INR-7 effectively induced downy mildew resistance in pearl millet. The histo-chemical analysis of B. pumilus INR-7 mediated systemic resistance showed that induced resistance is associated with the expression of hypersensitive response (HR), enhanced lignification, callose deposition, and hydrogen peroxide in addition to the increased expression of the defense enzymes β-1,3-glucanase, chitinase, phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), peroxidase (POX), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO). There was rapid expression of HR in the resistant pearl millet as well as the susceptible seedlings induced by treatment with INR-7 after pathogen infection when compared to the susceptible seedlings, which expressed HR at later hours. Examination of inoculated pearl millet tissues by microscopy showed that lignin, callose, and hydrogen peroxide accumulated earlier and to higher levels in resistant and induced resistant seedlings. Accumulation of various defense enzymes was an immediate response to Sclerospora graminicola infection and preceded the development of induced resistance elicited by strain INR-7. Tissue print analysis showed that defense enzymes were found to be localized in the vascular bundles and revealed the visual difference in the expression pattern of β-1,3-glucanase, chitinase, PAL, POX, and PPO whose intensity varied among resistant, INR-7 treated, and susceptible pearl millet seedlings. This study clearly demonstrated that the differences between the responses, susceptible, INR-7 treated or resistant pearl millet seedlings recorded differences in the speed, intensity, and pattern of different histo-chemical responses to S. graminicola infection.     

Influence of olfactory stimulants on resistance/susceptibility of pearl millet, Pennisetum americanum to the rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae

The orientation responses of the rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) as influenced by the olfactory stimulants emanating from either resistant or susceptible pearl millet, Pennisetum americanum, kernels were studied using a Y-tube olfactometer. The rice weevils were more attracted towards odours from millet grains than to blank controls and to susceptible entries more than to resistant entries, in general. However, there were exceptions. Odours from some resistant entries caused statistically the same, or even more positive orientations than those from some susceptible entries, and this suggests that the relative resistance of an entry and its olfactory attractiveness may not be strongly related, or that the resistance to infestation might be influenced by factors other than attractiveness. The partial damage of the millet kernel pericarp by abrasion slightly increased the orientational response of the weevils to odours from some susceptible and some resistant entries alike.     

Self‐rescue of an EXTENSIN mutant reveals alternative gene expression programs and candidate proteins for new cell wall assembly in Arabidopsis

Plants encode a poorly understood superfamily of developmentally expressed cell wall hydroxyproline‐rich glycoproteins (HRGPs). One, EXTENSIN3 (EXT3) of the 168 putative HRGPs, is critical in the first steps of new wall assembly, demonstrated by broken and misplaced walls in its lethal homozygous mutant. Here we report the findings of phenotypic (not genotypic) revertants of the ext3 mutant and in‐depth analysis including microarray and qRT‐PCR (polymerase chain reaction). The aim was to identify EXT3 substitute(s), thus gaining a deeper understanding of new wall assembly. The data show differential expression in the ext3 mutant that included 61% (P ≤ 0.05) of the HRGP genes, and ability to self‐rescue by reprogramming expression. Independent revertants had reproducible expression networks, largely heritable over the four generations tested, with some genes displaying transgenerational drift towards wild‐type expression levels. Genes for nine candidate regulatory proteins as well as eight candidate HRGP building materials and/or facilitators of new wall assembly or maintenance, in the (near) absence of EXT3 expression, were identified. Seven of the HRGP fit the current model of EXT function. In conclusion, the data on phenotype comparisons and on differential expression of the genes‐of‐focus provide strong evidence that different combinations of HRGPs regulated by alternative gene expression networks, can make functioning cell walls, resulting in (apparently) normal plant growth and development. More broadly, this has implications for interpreting the cause of any mutant phenotype, assigning gene function, and genetically modifying plants for utilitarian purposes.