The salicylic acid-dependent defence pathway is effective against different pathogens in tomato and tobacco

The role of salicylic acid (SA) was investigated in basal defence and induced resistance to powdery mildew ( Oidium neolycopersici ) and grey mould ( Botrytis cinerea ) in tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum ) and tobacco ( Nicotiana tabacum ). A comparison of NahG transgenic tomato and tobacco (unable to accumulate SA) to their respective wild types revealed that in tomato, SA was not involved in basal defence against O. neolycopersici but NahG tobacco showed an enhanced susceptibility to O. neolycopersici infection, the effect becoming more obvious as the plants grew older. In contrast, SA played no role in the basal defence of tobacco against B. cinerea , but seemed to contribute to basal defence of tomato against B. cinerea. Activation of the SA-dependent defence pathway via benzothiadiazole (BTH) resulted in induced resistance against O. neolycopersici in tobacco but not in tomato. Microscopic analysis revealed that BTH treatment could prevent penetration of the Oidium germ tube through tobacco leaves, whereas penetration was successful on tomato leaves irrespective of BTH treatment. In contrast, soil or leaf treatment with BTH induced resistance against B. cinerea in tomato but not in tobacco. It is concluded that the SA-dependent defence pathway is effective against different pathogens in tomato and tobacco.     

Interactions between Plasmopara helianthi, Glomus mosseae and Two Plant Activators in Sunflower Plants

Interactions between Plasmopara helianthi, Glomus mosseae and two plant activators DL--amino-n-butyric acid (BABA) and CGA 245704 (acibenzolar-S-methyl (BTH)) in sunflower plants susceptible to downy mildew were studied in four experiments using different methods of treatment and pathogen inoculation. Both chemicals were applied as soil drenches and foliar sprays, whereas P. helianthi infection was obtained by root and cotyledon inoculations of the seedlings. Soil drenches at the rates of 50 and 100mgkg^–1 soil of BABA and BTH given 1 and 3 days before P. helianthi inoculation, respectively to mycorrhizal plants, provided moderate protection against the pathogen (about 50–55%). Morphological changes and decrease in mycorrhizal colonization in roots of BTH-treated plants and in BTH-treated mycorrhizal plants were also observed. Delay in the emergence and reduction of the root systems were more evident at the highest concentration but decreased with time. These effects were absent with the BABA treatment.Foliar spray treatment of BABA and BTH, applied at 4000 and 200µgml^–1, respectively (1 day post-inoculation) to mycorrhizal plants provided good protection (about 80%) against P. helianthi foliar infections. No effects on mycorrhizal colonization or on root systems were observed. In vitro tests on the effect of the compounds on the mycorrhizal fungus showed that the germination of G. mosseae sporocarps increased with BABA treatment whereas it was greatly inhibited by BTH treatment.     

Activation of systemic disease resistance in pea by an avirulent bacterium or a benzothiadiazole, but not by a fungal leaf spot pathogen

Inoculation of first expanded leaves of pea seedlings with an avirulent strain of Pseudomonas syringae pv. pisi , or treatment with sprays of a benzothiadiazole (20 or 100  μ g a.i. mL⁻¹), decreased the susceptibility of subsequent leaves 7 or 14 days later to challenge inoculation with Mycosphaerella pinodes . Inoculation of first leaves with a virulent strain of P. syringae pv. pisi or with M. pinodes did not decrease the susceptibility of plants to M. pinodes . Treatments effective in decreasing susceptibility to M. pinodes were similarly active against Uromyces viciae-fabae and virulent P. syringae pv. pisi . Effective treatments also enhanced the activities of the enzymes β-1,3-glucanase and chitinase in untreated upper leaves 6 days later. Ineffective treatments for decreased susceptibility had no effect on the activity of the enzymes. None of the treatments enhanced peroxidase activities. The results are discussed in relation to the reported signalling effects of the benzothiadiazole and in relation to a suggested high activity of the avirulent P. syringae pv. pisi strain and inactivity of M. pinodes in enhancing natural signalling.     

Increasing control reliability of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Orobanche cumana </Emphasis>through integration of a biocontrol agent with a resistance-inducing chemical

Fusarium oxysporum Schlecht. f.sp. orthoceras (Appel & Wollenw.) Bilai is a potential biocontrol agent against the root-parasitic weed Orobanche cumana. In pot experiments with different sunflower cultivars, the application of F. oxysporum was combined with a treatment of BTH (Benzo(1,2,3)thiadiazole-7-carbothioic acid S-methyl ester), a product known to induce resistance against O. cumana in sunflower. The combined treatments resulted in highly reliable control and sometimes in increased control level compared to the Fusarium treatment alone. In laboratory experiments, no enhancing effect of BTH on virulence and growth of the fungus was observed. Future experiments should further investigate the basic mechanisms of the effect achieved by combining the two control strategies as well as the transfer of this innovative control approach into field experiments.     

苯并噻二唑对香蕉枯萎病的诱导抗性

采用含药培养基生长速率法测定苯并噻二唑(benzothiadiazole,BTH)对香蕉枯萎病菌4号生理小种(Fusarium oxysporumf.sp.cubense race 4,Foc 4)的室内毒力,结果表明BTH对Foc 4的EC50为929.9μg/mL,与杀菌剂多菌灵相比,其作用十分微弱。然后,在温室条件下,采用盆栽试验测定BTH对香蕉枯萎病的防治效果,结果表明BTH质量浓度为50μg/mL时的诱抗效果最好,防治效果可达到66.6%,且随着浓度的升高其防治效果逐渐降低。最后,在温室条件下测定BTH处理香蕉苗后,其体内6种防御酶活性的变化,结果表明BTH可以提高香蕉苗体内多种防御酶的活性。     

BTH处理对火龙果采后抗病性及贮藏品质的影响

研究旨在探索采后浸泡苯并噻二唑(BTH)处理对火龙果采后果实抗桃吉尔霉(Gilbertella persicaria)能力、贮藏品质和抗病相关酶活性的影响,为火龙果采后贮藏提供理论和实践依据。以火龙果‘软枝大红’为材料,采用0、50、100、150、200 mg/L BTH浸泡采后火龙果果实,观察接种桃吉尔霉病斑面积及病情指数变化、采后腐烂时间和腐烂率变化,综合比较筛出最佳BTH浓度,随后进一步测定贮藏期间对照和最佳处理浓度的品质和相关酶活性的变化。与对照相比,100 mg/L BTH浸泡处理可以显著降低火龙果果实接种桃吉尔霉后的病情指数(P<0.05),提高总糖含量、降低可滴定酸含量,提升贮藏期间CAT、SOD、POD、CHI、GLU、PAL活力。100 mg/L BTH浸泡处理对采后火龙果果实抗桃吉尔霉效果最佳,可提高火龙果果实的抗病、抗氧化相关酶活性,提升贮藏品质和延长贮藏时间。     

Signals that stop the rot: Regulation of secondary metabolite defences in cereals

Plants accumulate a vast arsenal of chemically diverse secondary metabolites for defence against pathogens. This review will focus on the signal transduction and regulation of defence secondary metabolite production in five food security cereal crops: maize, rice, wheat, sorghum and oats. Recent research advances in this field have revealed novel processes and chemistry in these monocots that make this a rich field for future research.