Hydroxycinnamic acid amides emerge as multifunctional molecules involved in regeneration and volatile signalling during wound responses in tomato

Grech Hernandez, C.; Andrade Cardenas, C. E.; Vera Sirera, F. J.; Rodrigo Bravo, I.; Belles Albert, J. M.; Lopez Gresa, M. P.; Lison Parraga, M. P.

doi:10.64898/2026.03.20.713112

bioRxiv · 10.64898/2026.03.20.713112

Hydroxycinnamic acid amides emerge as multifunctional molecules involved in regeneration and volatile signalling during wound responses in tomato

Grech Hernandez, C.·Andrade Cardenas, C. E.·Vera Sirera, F. J.·Rodrigo Bravo, I.·Belles Albert, J. M.·Lopez Gresa, M. P.·Lison Parraga, M. P.

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Abstract

O_LIHydroxycinnamic acid amides (HCAAs) are phenylpropanoid-derived metabolites with known antimicrobial and structural roles in plant defence against pathogens. However, their contribution to mechanical wound responses remains unclear, especially in terms of tissue regeneration and signalling. C_LIO_LIHere, we used tomato transgenic plants overexpressing the tyramine hydroxycinnamoyl transferase (THT), the key biosynthetic enzyme for HCAA production, to investigate the role of HCAAs in wound-induced responses, combining targeted metabolite profiling, gene expression, confocal microscopy, antioxidant assays, and volatile analyses. C_LIO_LIWe show that THT overexpression enhances wound-induced accumulation of HCAAs, promoting vascular lignification, suberization, callose deposition, and increased regeneration capacity. Additionally, 35S::THT plants display a distinct VOC profile that modulates defence gene expression in neighbouring wild-type plants, even in the absence of injury. C_LIO_LIThese results identify THT as a key regulator of structural reinforcement and defence priming after mechanical damage. Our findings highlight a novel role for HCAAs in wound healing and interplant signalling, with potential applications for improving crop resilience to mechanical stress. C_LI

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Grech Hernandez, C., Andrade Cardenas, C. E., Vera Sirera, F. J., Rodrigo Bravo, I., Belles Albert, J. M., Lopez Gresa, M. P., Lison Parraga, M. P.. 2026-03-23. Hydroxycinnamic acid amides emerge as multifunctional molecules involved in regeneration and volatile signalling during wound responses in tomato. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.03.20.713112

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