Tomato Defense against Whiteflies under Drought Stress: Non-Additive Effects and Cultivar-Specific Responses

Two of the main causes of losses in tomato production are the greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), and drought, which is becoming a central problem in agriculture due to global climate change. The separate effects of whitefly infestation and drought have been amply studied in many crop systems. However, less is known about their combined effects. To evaluate whether drought stress (DS) affects plant defense against whiteflies, we assessed the joint effects of whitefly infestation and DS on plant vegetative and reproductive performance in four tomato cultivars, and assessed the effects of DS on plant resistance and tolerance (compensatory ability) to whiteflies in a greenhouse experiment. Generally, we found negative effects of DS and whiteflies on plant performance, but the combined effects of DS and herbivory were not worse than those of either stress alone. In fact, plant performance under the combined effect of both stresses was usually similar to that in the presence of whiteflies without DS. Plants growing under DS had greater trichome density. However, plant resistance—as measured by whitefly population growth—decreased under DS in two cultivars and was unaffected in the other two. Compensatory ability decreased under DS in all but one cultivar. These cultivar-specific responses suggest genetic variation in resistance and tolerance to whiteflies and could be associated with differences in drought tolerance among cultivars. Our findings underscore the difficulty in predicting the combined effects of DS and herbivory and point to the need for a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying plant responses to both stresses at the molecular, cellular, and organismal levels

Tomato Defense against Whiteflies under Drought Stress: Non-Additive Effects and Cultivar-Specific Responses

Two of the main causes of losses in tomato production are the greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), and drought, which is becoming a central problem in agriculture due to global climate change. The separate effects of whitefly infestation and drought have been amply studied in many crop systems. However, less is known about their combined effects. To evaluate whether drought stress (DS) affects plant defense against whiteflies, we assessed the joint effects of whitefly infestation and DS on plant vegetative and reproductive performance in four tomato cultivars, and assessed the effects of DS on plant resistance and tolerance (compensatory ability) to whiteflies in a greenhouse experiment. Generally, we found negative effects of DS and whiteflies on plant performance, but the combined effects of DS and herbivory were not worse than those of either stress alone. In fact, plant performance under the combined effect of both stresses was usually similar to that in the presence of whiteflies without DS. Plants growing under DS had greater trichome density. However, plant resistance—as measured by whitefly population growth—decreased under DS in two cultivars and was unaffected in the other two. Compensatory ability decreased under DS in all but one cultivar. These cultivar-specific responses suggest genetic variation in resistance and tolerance to whiteflies and could be associated with differences in drought tolerance among cultivars. Our findings underscore the difficulty in predicting the combined effects of DS and herbivory and point to the need for a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying plant responses to both stresses at the molecular, cellular, and organismal levels

Exploring the clinical and genetical spectrum of ADPKD in Chile to assess ProPKD score as a risk prediction tool

Abstract Background Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a common inherited condition associated primarily with PKD1 and PKD2 genes. However, ADPKD patients in Latin America have had limited access to comprehensive care. The ProPKD score predicts the likelihood of kidney failure before the age of 60. This study aimed to describe the clinical and genetic characteristics of Chilean ADPKD patients and assess the ProPKD score. Methods We enrolled 40 ADPKD probands and 122 relatives from different centers. Genetic analysis of PKD1 and PKD2 genes was performed by combining direct and next-generation sequencing. Pathogenicity was determined using bioinformatic tools. ProPKD scores were calculated based on clinical and genetic data. Results ADPKD probands were diagnosed at a median age of 35 years. Pathogenic, likely pathogenic, or uncertain significance variants were identified in 38/40 pedigrees, with 89% involving PKD1 and 11% involving PKD2 variants. Among the identified variants, 62% were novel. Patients with PKD1 truncating variants had a more severe disease course, reaching kidney failure by a median age of 48.5 years. ProPKD scores were assessed in 72 individuals, stratifying them into high-, intermediate-, or low-risk categories and the median ages for kidney failure were 45, 49, and 52 years, respectively (log-rank p = 0.001). Conclusion This study provides valuable insights into the clinical and genetic profiles of ADPKD patients in Chile. ADPKD poses a significant public health concern, warranting improvements in diagnosis and treatment. The use of the ProPKD score to predict disease progression should be further explored to enhance patient care and management