The long non-coding RNA GhlncRNA149.1 improves cotton defense response to aphid damage as a positive regulator

Abstract Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play crucial roles in plant various biological regulatory processes and plant defense response to all sorts of the biotic and abiotic stresses. However, studies on the functions and mechanisms of lncRNAs are still been scarely reported in plant defense response to the damage of phytophagous insects. Here, GhlncRNA149.1, a lncRNA from Gossypium hirsutum, was shown to be induced by Aphis gossypii, methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid. Overexpression of GhlncRNA149.1 in cotton plants improved their defense response to the damage of Aphis gossypii, while silence of GhlncRNA149.1 in cotton plants reduced their defense response to the damage of Aphis gossypii. The target gene GhA01G0129 of GhlncRNA149.1 was also induced by Aphis gossypii, methyl jasmonate, salicylic acid and it was highly expressed in cotton plants overexpressing GhlncRNA149.1, while lowly expressed in cotton plants silencing GhlncRNA149.1. The activity and expression of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase(SOD), peroxidase(POD) and catalase(CAT) were up-regulated in transient overexpression GhlncRNA149.1 cotton plants, and their expression levels were down-regulated in GhlncRNA149.1 silenced cotton plants. In addition, the expression levels of Phenylalanine ammonialyase(PAL), Polyphenol oxidase(PPO), Enhanced disease susceptibility 1 (EDS1)and Nonexpressor of pathogenesis-related genes 1(NPR1) were up-regulated in cotton plants transiently overexpressing GhlncRNA149.1. These results collectively suggest that GhlncRNA149.1 improve the plant defense response to aphid attack, and thus has potential for enforing cotton aphid prevention and control.