Tomato spotted wilt virus triggers specific and shared defense mechanisms in hypersensitive and susceptible Solanaceae hosts

In situ and in vitro techniques were employed to investigate the metabolic changes caused by Tomato spotted wilt virus in hypersensitive and susceptible hosts; Petunia hybrida and Nicotiana tabacum, respectively. In petunia, H2O2 accumulation preceded increased peroxidase and shikimate dehydrogenase activity at local lesion sites. In systemic tobacco plants, peroxidase activity was induced prior to symptom onset and the activity of shikimate dehydrogenase was disrupted upon viral infection. Taken together, our data suggest that reactive oxygen species-based mechanisms of defense are shared by hypersensitive and susceptible hosts, although downstream components and regulatory mechanisms are distinct.