Overexpression of an apple broad range agglutinating lectin does not promote in planta resistance to fire blight and bacterial wilt

Lectins, a large group of proteins present in all kingdoms of life can bind reversibly to glycans. The roles of plant lectins are diverse and include resistance to biotic or abiotic stress, notably bacterial resistance. A gene family encoding amaranthin-like lectins termed MdAGGs in apple (Malus domestica) has been identified to be overexpressed upon treatment with the plant resistance inducer acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM) which promotes enhanced resistance to the fire blight disease caused by Erwinia amylovora (Ea). In this study, we first screened the ability of purified MdAGG10 to agglutinate bacterial cells in vitro among a range of bacterial species. Several bacterial species, either Gram positive or negative, either plant- or human-pathogens were found to be agglutinated by MdAGG10 in acidic conditions. Apple and Arabidopsis lines constitutively overexpressing MdAGG10 were generated and evaluated for their resistance to, respectively, Ea and Ralstonia solanacearum, both plant pathogens that were found in our screening. Despite MdAGG10 protein accumulated in tissues of both apple and Arabidopsis lines, they remained susceptible to their respective pathogens. Interestingly, in vitro agglutination of Ea by MdAGG10 did not impair bacterial growth, suggesting that other plant molecules are involved in the resistance to fire blight triggered after an ASM treatment.

Automated summary

Lectins, a group of proteins that can bind to glycans, have been found to be overexpressed in apple plants after treatment with the resistance inducer ASM, enhancing their resistance to fire blight disease. However, despite the accumulation of MdAGG10 protein in apple and Arabidopsis plants, they remain susceptible to their respective pathogens. In vitro agglutination of bacteria by MdAGG10 does not inhibit bacterial growth, suggesting the involvement of other plant molecules in the resistance mechanism.