Plant Cell Wall Remodeling in the Olive-Xylella fastidiosa Pathosystem
Daniele Coculo (Italy)1; Roberta Spanò (Italy)2; Candelas Maria Paniagua Correas (Spain)3; Jeronimo Coto-Elena (Spain)3; Josè Angel Mercado (Spain)3; Pasquale Saldarelli (Italy)2; Maria Saponari (Italy)2; Vincenzo Lionetti (Italy)1;
1 - Department of Biology and Biotechnology “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; 2 - Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection (IPSP-CNR), National Research Council, 70126 Bari, Italy; 3 - Instituto de Hortofruticultura Subtropical y Mediterránea (IHSM-UMA-CSIC), Department of Botany and Plant Physiology, Universidad de Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain;
Keywords: Cell Wall Remodeling; Crop resistance; Xylella fastidiosa;
Abstract Topics: Theme 9: Cell Wall Function and Signaling in plant adaptation to Biotic and Abiotic Stresses
Type of Presentation: Oral Communication

Abstract text: Beyond providing structural support, the plant cell wall (CW), is also recognized as an active component of plant immunity, able to modulate defense signaling upon pathogen-induced damage1,2,3,4. Despite growing evidence highlighting the role of CW-mediated responses in plant defense, their relevance in complex and economically important crop pathosystems remains insufficiently explored. In this study, we investigated the involvement of the CW in the interaction between olive (Olea europaea L.) and Xylella fastidiosa (Xf), the causal agent of Olive Quick Decline Syndrome, an important threat to Mediterranean olive cultivation. Understanding the structural and biochemical features associated with host resistance is essential for developing sustainable management strategies. CW composition and remodeling were compared between resistant and susceptible cultivars, under uninfected and infected conditions to identify constitutive and inducible CW traits potentially associated with resistance. Specific CW dynamics associated with resistance were identified. The implications of these CW dynamics for resistance mechanisms and strategies to mitigate the impact of this pathogen on olive cultivation will be addressed.

1Lionetti V, et al 2017. Plant Physiol 173:1844–1863

2Coculo D, Lionetti V 2022. Front Plant Sci 13:863892

3Coculo D, et al 2023. Plant Physiol Biochem 201:107865

4Del Corpo D, et al 2024. Plant Commun 5:100931