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Concurrent Session

Session: Concurrent Session: Local and inter-organ signaling in immunity and mutualistic interactions

Commensal Bacillus thuringiensis triggers TERPENE SYNTHASE10-dependent plant-to-plant propagation of induced systemic resistance

Wednesday, July 16, 2025

11:40 - 11:50

Location: Confex Hall 1+2

Author(s)

YC

Yuanyuan Chen

Helmholtz Munich/Institute of Biochemical Plant Pathology
Neuherberg, Bayern, Germany
AS

Anna Sommer

University of Bayreuth/Chair of Crop Plant Genetics
Kulmbach, Bayern, Germany
MW

Marion Wenig

Helmholtz Munich/Institute of Biochemical Plant Pathology
Neuherberg, Bayern, Germany

Presenting Author(s)

CV

Corina Vlot-Schuster

University of Bayreuth/Chair of Crop Plant Genetics
Kulmbach, Bayern, Germany

Abstract Text: Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is known for its CRY proteins, which are increasingly used in crop protection as bioinsecticides. Here, we show that inoculation of Arabidopsis thaliana roots with Bt triggers salicylic acid-mediated induced systemic resistance (ISR) in the above-ground tissues of the treated plants. Furthermore, neighbouring plants responded with enhanced disease resistance to volatile cues from Bt-treated, ISR-induced plants. Thus, treatment of plant roots with commensal bacteria triggered ISR and also plant-to-plant (PTP) propagation of ISR. We previously showed a similar PTP propagation of systemic acquired resistance (SAR) in response to pathogen inoculation of sender plants. Hypothesizing that the mechanisms of SAR and ISR overlap, we next aimed at elucidating shared molecular mechanisms. Because monoterpenes contribute to SAR and PTP-SAR, we studied TERPENE SYNTHASE (TPS) genes with documented or predicted roles in monoterpene biosynthesis. While TPS3 and TPS10 transcript accumulation was induced after inoculation of A. thaliana with P. syringae, both ISR and SAR were abolished in the respective mutants. Interestingly, basal resistance against P. syringae was enhanced compared to wild type in both mutants and this enhanced basal resistance was subject to PTP propagation. Thus, ISR, SAR, and their PTP propagation might mechanistically overlap, relying on TPS3- and TPS10-associated metabolite fluxes, shifting monoterpene profiles towards enhanced immunity.