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Exogenous Gibberellin GA3 Enhances Defense Responses in Rice to the Brown Planthopper Nilaparvata lugens (Stål)

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Abstract

Applying chemical elicitors is considered a promising approach for controlling pests in the field. Our previous studies have shown that gibberellin (GA) signaling positively regulates the resistance of rice (Oryza sativa) to the brown planthopper (BPH) Nilaparvata lugens (Stål). Yet, whether the exogenous application of GAs can enhance the resistance of rice to BPH remains unknown. Here, we investigated the influence of exogenous GA3 on both defense responses in rice and BPH performance. We found that pretreating rice with GA3 decreased transcript levels of a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and three WRKY transcription factors, as well as levels of BPH-elicited jasmonic acid (JA) and three phenolic acids but increased the release of ethylene. Moreover, GA3 treatment negatively affected the survival and development of BPH nymphs as well as the fecundity of BPH female adults. These findings suggest that GA3 promotes the resistance of rice to BPH and may, thus, be used to improve pest management in rice.

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Abbreviations

BPH:

Brown planthopper

ET:

Ethylene

GA:

Gibberellin

GAI:

Gibberellin insensitive

HAMPs:

Herbivore-associated molecular patterns

HPLC–MS/MS:

High-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry

JA:

Jasmonic acid

MAPK:

Mitogen-activated protein kinase

QRT-PCR:

Quantitative real-time PCR

RGL1:

RGA-LIKE1

SA:

Salicylic acid

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Acknowledgements

The study was jointly sponsored by the earmarked fund for China Agriculture Research System (CARS-01-40) and the National Program of Ministry of Agriculture of China (2016ZX08009003-001).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology & Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China

    Wanwan Wang, Nuo Jin, Xiaochang Mo, Jing Lu & Yonggen Lou

  2. Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China

    Wanwan Wang & Jun Wu

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  1. Wanwan Wang
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  2. Nuo Jin
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  3. Xiaochang Mo
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  4. Jun Wu
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Correspondence to Yonggen Lou.

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Wang, W., Jin, N., Mo, X. et al. Exogenous Gibberellin GA3 Enhances Defense Responses in Rice to the Brown Planthopper Nilaparvata lugens (Stål). J. Plant Biol. 64, 379–387 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12374-020-09271-5

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