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Interspecific variation in ABA/NO-mediated rust defense dynamics in Populus cathayana and P. deltoides

Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Poplars are of global ecological importance, yet they rank among the most threatened trees worldwide. The rust pathogen Melampsora larici-populina Kleb. is an obligate biotroph the most devastating foliar pathogen of poplar, leading to great losses in biomass production. The understanding of host-pathogen interactions between poplar and rust across different disease stages remains limited. Here, we inoculated Populus cathayana and P. deltoides with M. larici-populina , examined their disease resistance responses over multiple infection time points, and compared the species-specific resistance strategies and associated physiological mechanisms. Results showed that antioxidant enzymes, phenolic substances and phytohormones were all increased after infection in P. cathayana , while, their changes in P. deltoides differed. Compared to P. cathayana , P. deltoides exhibited milder and more systematic disease resistance due to its higher basal levels of antioxidant substances and stronger systemic acquired resistance in uninfected leaves. P. cathayana continuously responded to the infection of rust, and inhibited the colonization of rust in the early stage of infection, but struggled to control rust proliferation and spread at the late stage. The difference in rust resistance between the two poplar species may be closely related to the joint action of ROS, NO and phytohormones, because P. deltoides is more sensitive to these signals. Upon rust infection, abscisic acid induced stomatal closure accompanied by NO synthesis to resist rust invasion. Our findings advance the knowledge of the resistance mechanisms of poplar to rust.
DOI: 10.1016/j.envexpbot.2026.106375
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,000
OpenAlex ID: W7160717170
FWCI:
Cites: 55
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Related to: 10