Wounding systemically activates a mitogen-activated protein kinase in forage and turf grasses

Forage and turf grasses are continually cut and grazed by livestock, however very little is known concerning the perception or molecular responses to wounding. Mechanical wounding rapidly activated a 46 kDa and a 44 kDa mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in six different grass species. In the model grass species Lolium temulentum, the 46 kDa MAPK was rapidly activated within 5 min of wounding both locally and systemically in an adjacent unwounded tiller. This indicates that wounding generates a rapidly propagated long-distance signal that activates a MAPK in the distal portions of the plant. This 46 kDa MAPK activity was not enhanced by the addition of the pathogen-associated signal salicylic acid (SA) to the wound site nor induced when exposed to methyl jasmonate (MJ), which is a potent inducer of the wound response in dicotyledonous plants. However, pretreatment with MJ increased the wound-induced activity of the 44 kDa MAPK over the activity in control plants.

Research highlights
► Wound activated MAPKs in forage and turf grasses.
► Wound induced systemic signal transmitted through root crown in grass.
► Systemic activation of MAPK in adjacent unwounded tiller.