Nicotinamide Mononucleotide and Related Metabolites Induce Disease Resistance Against Fungal Phytopathogens in Arabidopsis and Barley (OA)

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Sci. Rep. Plant defense activators are organic molecules that do not possess antimicrobial activity but have been shown to enhance plant disease resistance mechanisms. A comparison of some Fusarium-resistant and -susceptible barely cultivars suggested that NMN may act as a plant defense activator.

RNAseq data revealed salicylic acid induction and cell death repression in NMN-pretreated Arabidopsis leaves inoculated with F. graminearum, while jasmonic acid and ethylene signaling appeared to be downregulated. Protective effects were also visible in NMN-pretreated barley plants as well as in NMN-pretreated Arabidopsis salicylic-acid (SA) deficient sid2 mutant, suggesting that the enhanced disease resistance also involves SA-independent signaling pathways.

To observe the effects of endogenously produced nicotinamide cofactors, the NMNAT gene – which converts NMN to NAD and represents a bottleneck of the biosynthetic pathway – was overexpressed. NMNAT overexpression was successful in increasing both the endogenous NAD content and plant resistance. Thus, modulation of nicotinic cofactors appears to be a valuable strategy to increase plant resistance to pathogens. (Summary by Elisa Dell’Aglio) Sci. Rep. 10.1038/s41598-017-06048-8

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