Contrasting effect of prey capture on jasmonate accumulation in two genera of aquatic carnivorous plants (Aldrovanda, Utricularia)

Terrestrial carnivorous plants of genera Drosera, Dionaea and Nepenthes within the order Caryophyllales employ jasmonates for the induction of digestive processes in their traps. Here, we focused on two aquatic carnivorous plant genera with different trapping mechanism from distinct families and orders: Aldrovanda (Droseraceae, Caryophyllales) with snap-traps and Utricularia (Lentibulariaceae, Lamiales) with suction traps. Using phytohormone analyses and simple biotest, we asked whether the jasmonates are involved in the activation of carnivorous response similar to that known in traps of terrestrial genera of Droseraceae (Drosera, Dionaea). The results showed that Utricularia, in contrast with Aldrovanda, does not use jasmonates for activation of carnivorous response and is the second genus in Lamiales, which has not co-opted jasmonate signalling for botanical carnivory. On the other hand, the nLC-MS/MS analyses revealed that both genera secreted digestive fluid containing cysteine protease homologous to dionain although the mode of its regulation may differ. Whereas in Utricularia the cysteine protease is present constitutively in digestive fluid, it is induced by prey and exogenous application of jasmonic acid in Aldrovanda.

Automated summary

The study found that unlike Aldrovanda, Utricularia does not use jasmonates for the activation of carnivorous response, making it the second genus in Lamiales that has not co-opted jasmonate signaling for botanical carnivory. Both genera secrete digestive fluid containing cysteine protease homologous to dionain, but the regulation may vary between them.