Methyl jasmonate elicits rapid changes in carbon and nitrogen dynamics in tomato.
• Evidence is emerging to support the notion that in response to herbivory, plants undergo changes in their primary metabolism and are able to fine-tune the allocation of new and existing resources and temporarily direct them to storage organs. • We hypothesized that simulated herbivory increases the export of resources out of the affected tissues and increases allocation to roots. We used short-lived radioisotopes to study in vivo the dynamics of newly incorporated (11)CO(2) and (13)NH(3). Methyl jasmonate (MeJA), a known defense elicitor, was applied to the foliage of tomato plants and 4 h later we monitored leaf uptake, export and whole-plant allocation of [(11)C]photosynthate and [(13)N]amino acids. • There was a marginally significant decrease in the fixation of (11)CO(2), and an increase in the export of newly acquired carbon and nitrogen out of MeJA-treated leaves. The proportion of nitrogen allocated to roots increased, whereas the proportion of carbon did not change. • These results are in agreement with our hypotheses, showing a change in the allocation of resources after treatment with MeJA; this may reduce the chance of resources being lost to herbivores and act as a buffer to biotic stress by increasing the potential for plant regrowth and survival after the attack.
Gómez
Sara
S
Department of Biology, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA. sara.gomez@tufts.edu
Ferrieri
Richard A
RA
Schueller
Michael
M
Orians
Colin M
CM
D000085:Acetates; D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D002244:Carbon / Q000378:metabolism*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D002247:Carbon Isotopes / Q000378:metabolism; D003517:Cyclopentanes; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000378:metabolism*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes / Q000378:metabolism; D054883:Oxylipins; D010935:Plant Diseases; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000378:metabolism; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000378:metabolism; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013312:Stress, Physiological
D000085:Acetates; D000596:Amino Acids; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D003517:Cyclopentanes; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes; D054883:Oxylipins; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D002244:Carbon; C072239:methyl jasmonate; D009584:Nitrogen