title: Herbivore-Triggered Electrophysiological Reactions: Candidates for Systemic Signals in Higher Plants and the Challenge of Their Identification.
abstract: In stressed plants, electrophysiological reactions (elRs) are presumed to contribute to long-distance intercellular communication between distant plant parts. Because of the focus on abiotic stress-induced elRs in recent decades, biotic stress-triggered elRs have been widely ignored. It is likely that the challenge to identify the particular elR types (action potential [AP], variation potential, and system potential [SP]) was responsible for this course of action. Thus, this survey focused on insect larva feeding (Spodoptera littoralis and Manduca sexta) that triggers distant APs, variation potentials, and SPs in monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plant species (Hordeum vulgare, Vicia faba, and Nicotiana tabacum). APs were detected only after feeding on the stem/culm, whereas SPs were observed systemically following damage to both stem/culm and leaves. This was attributed to the unequal vascular innervation of the plant and a selective electrophysiological connectivity of the plant tissue. However, striking variations in voltage patterns were detected for each elR type. Further analyses (also in Brassica napus and Cucurbita maxima) employing complementary electrophysiological approaches in response to different stimuli revealed various reasons for these voltage pattern variations: an intrinsic plasticity of elRs, a plant-specific signature of elRs, a specific influence of the applied (a)biotic trigger, the impact of the technical approach, and/or the experimental setup. As a consequence, voltage pattern variations, which are not irregular but rather common, need to be included in electrophysiological signaling analysis. Due to their widespread occurrence, systemic propagation, and respective triggers, elRs should be considered as candidates for long-distance communication in higher plants.
authors.affiliation: Institute of General Botany and Plant Physiology, Friedrich-Schiller-University, D-07743 Jena, Germany (M.R.Z., A.C.U.F.);Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, D-07745 Jena, Germany (A.M.);Plant Cell Biology Research Group, Institute of General Botany, Justus-Liebig-University, D-35390 Gießen, Germany (T.W.); andInstitute of General Botany, Justus-Liebig-University, D-35390 Gießen, Germany (H.H.F.) matthias.r.zimmermann@bot1.bio.uni-giessen.de.
authors.forename: Matthias R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Zimmermann
authors.affiliation: Institute of General Botany and Plant Physiology, Friedrich-Schiller-University, D-07743 Jena, Germany (M.R.Z., A.C.U.F.);Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, D-07745 Jena, Germany (A.M.);Plant Cell Biology Research Group, Institute of General Botany, Justus-Liebig-University, D-35390 Gießen, Germany (T.W.); andInstitute of General Botany, Justus-Liebig-University, D-35390 Gießen, Germany (H.H.F.).
authors.forename: Axel
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5229-6913
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mithöfer
authors.affiliation: Institute of General Botany and Plant Physiology, Friedrich-Schiller-University, D-07743 Jena, Germany (M.R.Z., A.C.U.F.);Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, D-07745 Jena, Germany (A.M.);Plant Cell Biology Research Group, Institute of General Botany, Justus-Liebig-University, D-35390 Gießen, Germany (T.W.); andInstitute of General Botany, Justus-Liebig-University, D-35390 Gießen, Germany (H.H.F.).
authors.forename: Torsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Will
authors.affiliation: Institute of General Botany and Plant Physiology, Friedrich-Schiller-University, D-07743 Jena, Germany (M.R.Z., A.C.U.F.);Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, D-07745 Jena, Germany (A.M.);Plant Cell Biology Research Group, Institute of General Botany, Justus-Liebig-University, D-35390 Gießen, Germany (T.W.); andInstitute of General Botany, Justus-Liebig-University, D-35390 Gießen, Germany (H.H.F.).
authors.forename: Hubert H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Felle
authors.affiliation: Institute of General Botany and Plant Physiology, Friedrich-Schiller-University, D-07743 Jena, Germany (M.R.Z., A.C.U.F.);Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, D-07745 Jena, Germany (A.M.);Plant Cell Biology Research Group, Institute of General Botany, Justus-Liebig-University, D-35390 Gießen, Germany (T.W.); andInstitute of General Botany, Justus-Liebig-University, D-35390 Gießen, Germany (H.H.F.).
authors.forename: Alexandra C U
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Furch
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D055724:Electrophysiological Phenomena; D060434:Herbivory / Q000502:physiology*; D001467:Hordeum / Q000469:parasitology / Q000502:physiology*; D018402:Manduca / Q000502:physiology; D008954:Models, Biological; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000502:physiology; D058526:Plant Vascular Bundle / Q000502:physiology; D018411:Spodoptera / Q000502:physiology; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000469:parasitology / Q000502:physiology*; D031307:Vicia faba / Q000469:parasitology / Q000502:physiology*