Publication Date:
2020-10-20
Description:
Conspicuous color is a common trait of foliar galls, but their relationship with gall-inducing insects is unknown. Red and green galls were taken from sunny or shady parts of peach species Prunus persica f. rubro-plena with peach aphid Tuberocephalus momonis infestation. We found that the loss of photosynthetic pigments was associated with the conspicuous coloration of green gall tissues. The concentrations of anthocyanins significantly increased following UV irradiation of green gall tissues, suggesting that accumulation of anthocyanins in red galls is related to UVB and UVC radiation. The expression of structural genes related to the biosynthesis of chlorogenic acid and malic acid benzoate were increased in all gall tissues and negatively correlated with the expression profiles of certain genes associated with photosynthetic biosynthesis, indicating that the increased transcript levels of the phenylpropanoid pathway might cause loss of photosynthetic efficiency in the gall tissues. Transcriptome and qRT-PCR analyses revealed that MYB transcription factors that up-regulate the biosynthesis of anthocyanins in red gall tissues might be activated by both UVB and UVC exposure. Comet assays suggest that green and red gall tissues have similar DNA damage following UV irradiation. No obvious effect of the up-regulated compounds on the growth of the peach aphid was observed. Interestingly, peach aphids under leaves painted with anthocyanins had lower mortality following UV irradiation than those in controls. These results suggest that the anthocyanins in red gall tissues have a defensive function for the peach aphid, protecting it against UV radiation.
Print ISSN:
0829-318X
Electronic ISSN:
1758-4469
Topics:
Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Fishery, Domestic Science, Nutrition
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