Grape downy mildew is a major grape disease that typically occurs when grape leaves are subjected to high temperature. In this study, downy mildew incidence in ‘Red Globe’ grape was investigated. To clarify the effects of grape downy mildew on grape leaves under high-temperature stress. Grape downy mildew infestation and high-temperature treatment alone or combinations were applied to ‘Red Globe’ grape. The gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of grape leaves were measured. The results showed that logistic growth period of grape downy mildew in the Jinzhong, China was from July 20 to August 10. After the combined stress of high temperature and grape downy mildew, photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (G_s), intercellular carbon dioxide concentration (C_i), maximum photochemical efficiency(Fv/Fm), actual photochemical efficiency(ΦPSII), and performance index on absorption basis (PI_ABS) of grape leaves were all decreased more than the sum of those indexes under the two stresses individually. At 28°C, the damage of downy mildew had no significant effect on the degree of photosystem closure of leaves, but it was significantly increased with the combined stresses. The electron transfer efficiency from photosystem II to photosystem I was decreased significantly under the combined stresses. Under 38°C high-temperature stress, the energy dissipated per active reaction center of the leaves affected by grape downy mildew was significantly increased. High temperature aggravated adverse effects of downy mildew on the structure and function of photosystem II (PSII) of grape leaves and then further exacerbated reduction of photosynthesis caused by heat stress.

Apolygus lucorum is a polyphagous herbivore that has become a major pest in China. Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba) is the main host of A. lucorum. However, better insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying the jujube defense response to A. lucorum is needed. Here, we investigated the resistance of resistant (winter jujube) and sensitive varieties (wild jujube) to A. lucorum. Changes in the transcriptome, jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA) contents and the expression of genes involved in signaling pathways in different jujube varieties were monitored. The preference of A. lucorum for jujube with exogenous SA and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) was examined. Wild jujube showed more resistance and nonselectivity to A. lucorum. RNA-seq analysis showed that 438 and 796 transcripts were differentially expressed in winter jujube and wild jujube leaves infested by A. lucorum. Enrichment analysis showed that more genes in JA pathways were upregulated and more genes in SA pathways were downregulated. A. lucorum increased the JA content and decreased the salicylic acid content. This was confirmed by the alterations of gene expression in the related signaling pathways. MeJA in jujube leaves showed an obvious repellent effect on A. lucorum. Consistently, the contents of jasmonic acid and salicylic acid in winter jujube were lower than those in wild jujube leaves. The present data indicated that A. lucorum infestation of jujube plants induced the JA pathway and suppressed the SA pathway. JA in jujube leaves played an important role in repelling and basic defense against A. lucorum.