Plant metabolism of nematode pheromones mediates plant-nematode interactions

Murli Manohar, Francisco Tenjo-Castano, Shiyan Chen, Ying K. Zhang, Anshu Kumari, Valerie M. Williamson, Xiaohong Wang, Daniel F. Klessig () and Frank C. Schroeder ()
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Murli Manohar: Boyce Thompson Institute
Francisco Tenjo-Castano: Boyce Thompson Institute
Shiyan Chen: Cornell University
Ying K. Zhang: Boyce Thompson Institute
Anshu Kumari: Boyce Thompson Institute
Valerie M. Williamson: University of California
Xiaohong Wang: Cornell University
Daniel F. Klessig: Boyce Thompson Institute
Frank C. Schroeder: Boyce Thompson Institute

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Microorganisms and nematodes in the rhizosphere profoundly impact plant health, and small-molecule signaling is presumed to play a central role in plant rhizosphere interactions. However, the nature of the signals and underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Here we show that the ascaroside ascr#18, a pheromone secreted by plant-parasitic nematodes, is metabolized by plants to generate chemical signals that repel nematodes and reduce infection. Comparative metabolomics of plant tissues and excretions revealed that ascr#18 is converted into shorter side-chained ascarosides that confer repellency. An Arabidopsis mutant defective in two peroxisomal acyl-CoA oxidases does not metabolize ascr#18 and does not repel nematodes, indicating that plants, like nematodes, employ conserved peroxisomal β-oxidation to edit ascarosides and change their message. Our results suggest that plant-editing of nematode pheromones serves as a defense mechanism that acts in parallel to conventional pattern-triggered immunity, demonstrating that plants may actively manipulate chemical signaling of soil organisms.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-14104-2

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