A transcriptomic view to wounding response in young Scots pine stems

Abstract We studied the stress response of five-year-old Scots pine xylem to mechanical wounding using RNA sequencing. In general, we observed a bimodal response in pine xylem after wounding. Transcripts associated with water deficit stress, defence, and cell wall modification were induced at the ea...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Kean-Jin Lim, Tanja Paasela, Anni Harju, Martti Venäläinen, Lars Paulin, Petri Auvinen, Katri Kärkkäinen, Teemu H. Teeri
Format: article
Language:EN
Published: Nature Portfolio 2021
Subjects:
R
Q
Online Access:https://doaj.org/article/b4a93d52c5264fbcac2793d78ab1ffb2
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Summary:Abstract We studied the stress response of five-year-old Scots pine xylem to mechanical wounding using RNA sequencing. In general, we observed a bimodal response in pine xylem after wounding. Transcripts associated with water deficit stress, defence, and cell wall modification were induced at the earliest time point of three hours; at the same time, growth-related processes were down-regulated. A second temporal wave was triggered either at the middle and/or at the late time points (one and four days). Secondary metabolism, such as stilbene and lignan biosynthesis started one day after wounding. Scots pine synthesises the stilbenes pinosylvin and its monomethyl ether both as constitutive and induced defence compounds. Stilbene biosynthesis is induced by wounding, pathogens and UV stress, but is also developmentally regulated when heartwood is formed. Comparison of wounding responses to heartwood formation shows that many induced processes (in addition to stilbene biosynthesis) are similar and relate to defence or desiccation stress, but often specific transcripts are up-regulated in the developmental and wounding induced contexts. Pine resin biosynthesis was not induced in response to wounding, at least not during the first four days.