Jujube witches' broom phytoplasmas inhibit ZjBRC1-mediated ABA metabolism to induce shoot proliferation

Abstract Jujube witches' broom (JWB) phytoplasmas parasitize the sieve tubes of diseased phloem and cause an excessive proliferation axillary shoots from dormant lateral buds to favour their transmission. In previous research, two JWB effectors, SJP1 SJP2, were identified induce bud outgrowth by disrupting ZjBRC1-mediated auxin flux. However, pathogenesis disease remains largely unknown. Here, tissue-specific transcriptional reprogramming was examined gain insight into genetic mechanisms acting inside jujube under phytoplasma infection. modulated a series plant signalling networks involved in development defence, including auxin, abscisic acid, ethylene, jasmonic salicylic acid. JWB-induced accompanied downregulation ABA synthesis within buds. application rescued bushy appearances transgenic Arabidopsis overexpressing SJP2 Col-0 ZjBRC1 brc1-2 mutant. Furthermore, expression ABA-related genes ZjHB40 ZjNCED3 negatively correlated with main decapitated healthy jujube. Molecular evidence showed that interacted ZjBRC2 via its N-terminus activate accumulation calli. addition, widely regulated differentially expressed related homeostasis signalling, especially binding suppressing PYL receptors. Therefore, these results suggest hijack pathways stimulate expansion, providing strategy engineer plants resistant regulate woody architecture promote crop yield quality.