Small RNAs contribute to citrus Huanglongbing tolerance by manipulating methyl salicylate signaling and exogenous methyl salicylate primes citrus groves from emerging infection

• DOI: 10.1111/tpj.16426
• Publication Date: 2023-08-24T06:01:24Z
• Authors: Baoping Cheng; Le Xu; Muhammad Saqib Bilal; Qing Huang; Dongdong Niu; Hongyu Ma; Shaoxia Zhou; Aitian Peng; Guo Wei; Feng Chen; Liang Zeng; Hong Lin; Ayesha Baig; Xuefeng Wang; Xiuping Zou; Hongwei Zhao
• Keywords: Methyl salicylate

Citrus production is severely threatened by the devastating Huanglongbing (HLB) disease globally. By studying and analyzing defensive behaviors of an HLB-tolerant citrus cultivar 'Shatangju', we discovered that can sense Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) infection induce immune responses against HLB, which be further strengthened both endogenously produced exogenously applied methyl salicylate (MeSA). This circuit turned on miR2977-SAMT (encoding a Salicylate [SA] O-methyltransferase) cascade, CLas leads to more in planta MeSA aerial emission. We provided transgenic multi-year trail evidences effective community signal. Ambient accumulation foliage application effectively defense gene expression significantly boost performance. also found miRNAs are battle fields between CLas, about 30% differential upon regulated miRNAs. Furthermore, hijacks host key processes manipulating miRNAs, employs coordinately regulate defense-related genes. Based our results, proposed associated components targets for engineering or breeding resistant varieties. anticipate MeSA-based management, either induced external application, would promising tool HLB control.