Heat-shock proteins are induced in unstressed leaves of Nicotiana attenuata (Solanaceae) when distant leaves are stressed

In Nicotiana attenuata, systemic induction of heat-shock proteins (Hsps) was detected in response to the treatment of single leaves by either heat shock, mechanical damage, or exogenous application of methyl jasmonate (MJ). All treatments increased the abundance of members of the 70-kD Hsp (Hsp70) family and induced synthesis of one or more of the small Hsps (sHsp) (16–23 kD) in both treated and untreated leaves. These results provide the first evidence that Hsps can be systemically induced in plants and suggest that systemic induction of Hsps may be important in pre-adapting leaves to stress.