AUTHOR=Zhu Yutao , Hu Xiaoqian , Wang Ping , Gao Linying , Pei Yakun , Ge Zhaoyue , Ge Xiaoyang , Li Fuguang , Hou Yuxia 

TITLE=GhPLP2 Positively Regulates Cotton Resistance to Verticillium Wilt by Modulating Fatty Acid Accumulation and Jasmonic Acid Signaling Pathway

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2021.749630

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2021.749630

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<p>Patatin-like proteins (PLPs) have non-specific lipid acyl hydrolysis (LAH) activity, which can hydrolyze membrane lipids into fatty acids and lysophospholipids. The vital role of PLPs in plant growth and abiotic stress has been well documented. However, the function of PLPs in plant defense responses against pathogens is still poorly understood. Here, we isolated and identified a novel cotton (<italic>Gossypium hirsutum</italic>) PLP gene <italic>GhPLP2</italic>. The expression of <italic>GhPLP2</italic> was induced upon treatment with <italic>Verticillium dahliae</italic>, the signaling molecules jasmonic acid (JA) and ethylene (ETH) in cotton plants. Subcellular localization revealed that GhPLP2 was localized to the plasma membrane. <italic>GhPLP2</italic>-silenced cotton plants were more susceptible to infection by <italic>V. dahliae</italic>, while the overexpression of <italic>GhPLP2</italic> in Arabidopsis enhanced its resistance to <italic>V. dahliae</italic>, which was apparent as mild symptoms, and a decrease in the disease index and fungal biomass. The hypersensitive response, deposition of callose, and H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> accumulation triggered by <italic>V. dahliae</italic> elicitor were reduced in <italic>GhPLP2</italic>-silenced cotton plants. The overexpression of <italic>GhPLP2</italic> in Arabidopsis resulted in the accumulation of linoleic acid (LA, 18:2) and α-linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3) and facilitated the biosynthesis of JA and JA-mediated defensive responses. <italic>GhPLP2</italic> silencing in cotton plants consistently reduced the accumulation of linoleic acid (LA, 18:2) and α-linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3) and suppressed the biosynthesis of JA and the defensive responses mediated by JA. These results indicate that <italic>GhPLP2</italic> is involved in the resistance of cotton to <italic>V. dahliae</italic> by maintaining fatty acid metabolism pools for JA biosynthesis and activating the JA signaling pathway.</p>