Nitrite as the major source of nitric oxide production by Arabidopsis thaliana in response to Pseudomonas syringae.

The origin of nitric oxide (*NO) in plants is unclear and an *NO synthase (NOS)-like enzyme and nitrate reductase (NR) are claimed as potential sources. Here we used wild-type and NR-defective double mutant plants to investigate *NO production in Arabidopsis thaliana in response to Pseudomonas syringae pv maculicola. NOS activity increased substantially in leaves inoculated with P. syringae. However, electron paramagnetic resonance experiments showed a much higher *NO formation that was dependent on nitrite and mitochondrial electron transport rather than on arginine or nitrate. Overall, these results indicate that NOS, NR and a mitochondrial-dependent nitrite-reducing activity cooperate to produce *NO during A. thaliana-P. syringae interaction.