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Abstract

Calcium ion (Ca2+) signalling triggered by insect herbivory is an intricate network with multiple components, involving positive and negative regulators. Real-time, noninvasive imaging of entire Arabidopsis thaliana rosettes was employed to monitor cytosolic free calcium ([Ca2+]cyt) elevations in local and systemic leaves in response to wounding and Spodoptera littoralis feeding.
Luminescence emitted by the cytosol-localized Ca2+ reporter aequorin was imaged using a high-resolution photon-counting camera system.
Spodoptera littoralis feeding on Arabidopsis induced both local and systemic [Ca2+]cyt elevations. Systemic [Ca2+]cyt signals were found predominantly in adjacent leaves with direct vascular connections to the treated leaf and appeared with a delay of 1 to 2 min. Simulated herbivory by wounding always induced a local [Ca2+]cyt response, but a systemic one only when the midrib was wounded. This systemic [Ca2+]cyt response was suppressed by the presence of insect-derived oral secretions as well as in a mutant of the vacuolar cation channel, Two Pore Channel 1 (TPC1).
Our results provide evidence that in Arabidopsis insect herbivory induces both local and systemic [Ca2+]cyt signals that distribute within the vascular system. The systemic [Ca2+]cyt signal could play an important signalling role in systemic plant defence.