Tomato receptor FLS3 binds flgII-28 and activates the plant immune system
S. HIND (1), S. Strickler (1), P. Boyle (1), D. Dunham (1), Z. Bao (1), I. O'Doherty (2), J. Baccile (2), J. Hoki (2), C. Clarke (3), B. Vinatzer (3), F. Schroeder (2), G. Martin (2) (1) Boyce Thompson Institute, U.S.A.; (2) Boyce Thompson Institute; Cornell University, U.S.A.; (3) Virginia Tech, U.S.A.

The recognition of conserved microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) by pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) is one of the initial events that activates pattern-triggered immunity (PTI) in both plants and animals. This immune response leads to the rapid generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), activation of mitogen-associated protein kinases (MAPKs), and extensive changes in the transcriptome that together hinder the infection process. The first plant PRR-MAMP pair, consisting of FLS2 and its ligand the flagellin epitope flg22, works in concert with the co-receptor BAK1 to activate intracellular immune signaling. Certain solanaceous plants, including tomato, potato and pepper, detect flgII-28, a region of bacterial flagellin that is distinct from that perceived by the well-characterized FLS2 receptor. Here, we use natural variation in tomato heirloom varieties and a mapping-by-sequencing approach to identify a receptor-like kinase gene, named FLAGELLIN-SENSING 3 (FLS3), which confers responsiveness to flgII-28. We demonstrate that FLS3 is the flgII-28 receptor and show that FLS3-mediated immunity enhances resistance to a bacterial pathogen. In addition, FLS3 signaling is BAK1-dependent and is suppressed by bacterial effectors AvrPto and AvrPtoB. The emerging awareness that pathogens have numerous ways to subvert or evade host immunity has highlighted the need for identifying new mechanisms to enhance plant immunity.


Abstract Number: P17-534
Session Type: Poster