Glutathione contributes to resistance responses to TMV through a differential modulation of salicylic acid and reactive oxygen species

Systemic acquired resistance (SAR) is induced by pathogens and confers protection against a broad range of pathogens. Several SAR signals have been characterized, but the nature of the other unknown signalling by small metabolites in SAR remains unclear. Glutathione (GSH) has long been implicated in the defence reaction against biotic stress. However, the mechanism that GSH increases plant tolerance against virus infection is not entirely known. Here, a combination of a chemical, virus‐induced gene‐silencing‐based genetics approach, and transgenic technology was undertaken to investigate the role of GSH in plant viral resistance in Nicotiana benthamiana. Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) infection results in increasing the expression of GSH biosynthesis genes NbECS and NbGS, and GSH content. Silencing of NbECS or NbGS accelerated oxidative damage, increased accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), compromised plant resistance to TMV, and suppressed the salicylic acid (SA)‐mediated signalling pathway. Application of GSH or l‐2‐oxothiazolidine‐4‐carboxylic acid (a GSH activator) alleviated oxidative damage, decreased accumulation of ROS, elevated plant local and systemic resistance, enhanced the SA‐mediated signalling pathway, and increased the expression of ROS scavenging‐related genes. However, treatment with buthionine sulfoximine (a GSH inhibitor) accelerated oxidative damage, elevated ROS accumulation, compromised plant systemic resistance, suppressed the SA‐mediated signalling pathway, and reduced the expression of ROS‐regulating genes. Overexpression of NbECS reduced oxidative damage, decreased accumulation of ROS, increased resistance to TMV, activated the SA‐mediated signalling pathway, and increased the expression of the ROS scavenging‐related genes. We present molecular evidence suggesting GSH is essential for both local and systemic resistance of N. benthamiana to TMV through a differential modulation of SA and ROS.