Two interacting ethylene response factors negatively regulate peach resistance to Lasiodiplodia theobromae.

Gummosis is one of the most common and destructive diseases threatening global peach (Prunus persica) production. Our previous studies have revealed that ethylene and methyl-jasmonate enhance peach susceptibility to Lasiodiplodia theobromae, a virulent pathogen inducing gummosis; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain obscure. Here, two ethylene response factors, PpERF98 and PpERF1, were identified as negative regulators in peach response to L. theobromae infection. Expression of two putative paralogs, PpERF98-1/2, was dramatically induced by ethylene and L. theobromae treatments and accumulated highly in the gummosis-sensitive cultivar. Silencing of PpERF98-1/2 increased salicylic acid (SA) content and pathogenesis-related genes PpPR1 and PpPR2 transcripts, conferring peach resistance to L. theobromae, whereas peach and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants overexpressing either of PpERF98-1/2 showed opposite changes. Also, jasmonic acid markedly accumulated in PpERF98-1/2-silenced plants, but reduction in PpPR3, PpPR4, and PpCHI (Chitinase) transcripts indicated a blocked signaling pathway. PpERF98-1/2 were further demonstrated to directly bind the promoters of two putative paralogous PpERF1 genes and to activate the ERF branch of the jasmonate/ethylene signaling pathway, thus attenuating SA-dependent defenses. The lesion phenotypes of peach seedlings overexpressing PpERF1-1/2 and PpERF98-1/2 were similar. Furthermore, PpERF98-1/2 formed homo-/hetero-dimers and interacted with the two PpERF1 proteins to amplify the jasmonate/ethylene signaling pathway, as larger lesions were observed in peach plants co-overexpressing PpERF98 with PpERF1 relative to individual PpERF98 overexpression. Overall, our work deciphers an important regulatory network of ethylene-mediated peach susceptibility to L. theobromae based on a PpERF98-PpERF1 transcriptional cascade, which could be utilized as a potential target for genetic engineering to augment protection against L. theobromae-mediated diseases in crops and trees.