Arabidopsis ethylene receptors have different roles in Fumonisin B1-induced cell death

Ethylene is a central signalling agent in mediating plant defence against pathogens. Mutations to the ethylene receptor ETR1 have been shown to alter susceptibility of plants to mycotoxin-induced cell death. Using Fumonisin B1 (FB1) to induce cell death, we demonstrate that the receptor mutant ein4-1 has a reduced rate of necrosis, potentially due to an upregulation of ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR1. Mutations in other ethylene receptors differentially affected the expression of genes in the jasmonic and salicylic acid defence pathways. Together these data indicate that ethylene receptors do not have redundant roles in mediating FB1-induced cell death.