Hunting cycle of the carnivorous plant Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula Ellis) is comprised of mechanism for rapid trap closure followed by slow hermetical sealing and activation of gene expression responsible for digestion of prey and nutrient uptake. In the present study, we focus on the late phase of Venus's flytrap hunting cycle when mechanical stimulation of the prey ceases and is replaced by chemical cues. We used two nitrogen-rich compounds (chitin and protein) in addition to mechanostimulation to investigate the electrical and jasmonate signalling responsible for induction of enzyme activities. Chemical stimulation by BSA protein and chitin did not induce any additional spontaneous action potentials (APs). However, chemical stimulation by protein induced the highest levels of jasmonic acid (JA) and its isoleucine conjugate (JA-Ile) as well as the expression of studied gene encoding a cysteine protease (dionain). Although chitin is probably the first chemical agent which is in direct contact with digestive glands, presence of protein in the secured trap mimics the presence of insect prey best.

Department of Biophysics Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research Faculty of Science Palacký University Šlechtitelů 27 CZ 783 71 Olomouc Czech Republic

Department of Plant Physiology Faculty of Natural Sciences Comenius University in Bratislava Ilkovičova 6 Mlynská dolina B2 SK 842 15 Bratislava Slovakia

Department of Plant Physiology Faculty of Natural Sciences Comenius University in Bratislava Ilkovičova 6 Mlynská dolina B2 SK 842 15 Bratislava Slovakia; Comenius University Science Park Comenius University in Bratislava Ilkovičova 8 SK 841 04 Bratislava Slovakia

Laboratory of Growth Regulators Faculty of Science Palacký University and Institute of Experimental Botany The Czech Academy of Sciences Šlechtitelů 27 CZ 78371 Olomouc Czech Republic

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