Silencing of SlFTR-c, the catalytic subunit of ferredoxin:thioredoxin reductase, induces pathogenesis-related genes and pathogen resistance in tomato plants

As a heterodimeric protein, ferredoxin:thioredoxin reductase (FTR) catalyses the light-dependant activation of several photosynthetic enzymes. The active site of the catalytic subunit of FTR contains a redox-active disulfide and a [4Fe–4S] center. We isolated the catalytic subunit gene of FTR, designated SlFTR-c, from tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). SlFTR-c transcripts were detected in all tissues examined, including roots, leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds. Interestingly, virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) of SlFTR-c resulted in necrotic lesions with typical cell death symptoms and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in tomato leaves. Moreover, these SlFTR-c-silenced plants displayed enhanced disease resistance against bacterial pathogens, specifically Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000, by the induction of defense-related genes (SlPR-1, SlPR-2, SlPR-5, SlGlucA, SlChi3, and SlChi9). Taken together, it seems that SlFTR-c works as a regulator of programmed cell death (PCD) and pathogen resistance in tomato plants.

Research highlights
► Silencing of SlFTR-c induced oxidative bursts and a spontaneous-lesion phenotype.
► SlFTR-c-silenced tomato plants constitutively expressed defense-related genes.
► Silencing of SlFTR-c in tomato plants confers resistance to bacterial pathogens.