Metabolomic- and Molecular Networking-Based Exploration of the Chemical Responses Induced in Citrus sinensis Leaves Inoculated with Xanthomonas citri

Author(s)

Saldanha, Luiz Leonardo ; Allard, Pierre-Marie ; Dilarri, Guilherme ; Codesido, Santiago ; Gonzalez-Ruiz, Victor ; Queiroz, Emerson Ferreira ; Ferreira, Henrique ; Wolfender, Jean-Luc

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry; v. N/A, p. 13-pg., 2022-11-09.

Abstract

Citrus canker, caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (X. citri), is a plant disease affecting Citrus crops worldwide. However, little is known about defense compounds in Citrus. Here, we conducted a mass spectrometry-based metabolomic approach to obtain an overview of the chemical responses of Citrus leaves to X. citri infection. To facilitate result interpretation, the multivariate analyses were combined with molecular networking to identify biomarkers. Metabolite variations among untreated and X. citri-inoculated Citrus samples under greenhouse conditions highlighted induced defense biomarkers. Notably, the plant tryptophan metabolism pathway was activated, leading to the accumulation of N-methylated tryptamine derivatives. This finding was subsequently confirmed in symptomatic leaves in the field. Several tryptamine derivatives showed inhibitory effects in vitro against X. citri. This approach has enabled the identification of new chemically related biomarker groups and their dynamics in the response of Citrus leaves to Xanthomonas infection. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/50880-0 - INCT 2014: comparative and functional genomics and citrus-assisted breeding
• Grantee: Marcos Antonio Machado
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 19/00307-5 - Investigation of small molecules signaling networks on Citrus sinensis infected with Xanthomonas citri sub. citri using NMR and UHPLC-TOF/MS based metabolomics
• Grantee: Luiz Leonardo Saldanha
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• FAPESP's process: 15/50162-2 - Protecting plants with antimicrobial peptides and gallates - Pro-Planta
• Grantee: Henrique Ferreira
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants