Flors, Victor

2014, Boachon, Benoît, Gamir, Jordi, Pastor, Victoria, Erb, Matthias, Dean, John V., Flors, Victor, Mauch-Mani, Brigitte

2012, Pastor, Victoria, Vicent, Cristian, Cerezo, Miguel, Mauch-Mani, Brigitte, Dean, John, Flors, Victor

2009, Ton, Jurriaan, Flors, Victor, Mauch-Mani, Brigitte

Long known only for its role in abiotic stress tolerance, recent evidence shows that abscisic acid (ABA) also has a prominent role in biotic stress. Although it acts as a negative regulator of disease resistance, ABA can also promote plant defense and is involved in a complicated network of synergistic and antagonistic interactions. Its role in disease resistance depends on the type of pathogen, its specific way of entering the host and, hence, the timing of the defense response and the type of affected plant tissue. Here, we discuss the controversial evidence pointing to either a repression or a promotion of resistance by ABA. Furthermore, we propose a model in which both possibilities are integrated.

2009, Mauch-Mani, Brigitte, Flors, Victor

2014, Pastor, Victoria, Pena, Andrea, Gamir, Jordi, Flors, Victor, Mauch-Mani, Brigitte

2012, Slaughter, Ana, Daniel, Xavier, Flors, Victor, Luna, Estrella, Hohn, Barbara, Mauch-Mani, Brigitte

2009, Erb, Matthias, Flors, Victor, Karlen, Danielle, de Lange, Elvira S., Planchamp, Chantal, D’Alessandro, Marco, Turlings, Ted, Ton, Jurriaan

Plants activate local and systemic defence mechanisms upon exposure to stress. This innate immune response is partially regulated by plant hormones, and involves the accumulation of defensive metabolites. Although local defence reactions to herbivores are well studied, less is known about the impact of root herbivory on shoot defence. Here, we examined the effects of belowground infestation by the western corn rootworm Diabrotica virgifera virgifera on aboveground resistance in maize. Belowground herbivory by D. v. virgifera induced aboveground resistance against the generalist herbivore Spodoptera littoralis, and the necrotrophic pathogen Setosphaeria turcica. Furthermore, D. v. virgifera increased shoot levels of 2,4-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-1,4-benzoxazin-3-one (DIMBOA), and primed the induction of chlorogenic acid upon subsequent infestation by S. littoralis. To gain insight into the signalling network behind this below- and aboveground defence interaction, we compiled a set of 32 defence-related genes, which can be used as transcriptional marker systems to detect activities of different hormone-response pathways. Belowground attack by D. v. virgifera triggered an ABA-inducible transcription pattern in the shoot. The quantification of defence hormones showed a local increase in the production of oxylipins after root and shoot infestation by D. v. virgifera and S. littoralis, respectively. On the other hand, ABA accumulated locally and systemically upon belowground attack by D. v. virgifera. Furthermore, D. v. virgifera reduced the aboveground water content, whereas the removal of similar quantities of root biomass had no effect. Our study shows that root herbivory by D. v. virgifera specifically alters the aboveground defence status of a maize, and suggests that ABA plays a role in the signalling network mediating this interaction.

2013, Balmer, Dirk, Flors, Victor, Glauser, Gaetan, Mauch-Mani, Brigitte

2009, Erb, Matthias, Gordon-Weeks, Ruth, Flors, Victor, Camañes, Gemma, Turlings, Ted, Ton, Jurriaan

2009, Mauch-Mani, Brigitte, Flors, Victor