Genetic aspects of polyacrylic-acid-induced resistance to tobacco mosaic virus and tobacco necrosis virus in Nicotiana plants

Among the Nicotiana tabacum cultivars and hybrids tested, polyacrylic acid (PAA) only induced resistance to tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) and tobacco necrosis virus (TNV) in the cultivars Xanthi-nc (NN) and Xanthi (nn) respectively. This varietal response to the PAA treatment could be sexually transmitted. The complete genetic analysis of the inheritance of the PAA response is reported for the first time, demonstrating that the response is a dominant character with a Mendelian segregation which occurs independently of either the N gene responsible for resistance to TMV or the PRb-protein genes. Possible relationships between the N gene, the gene for the PAA response and the PRb genes are discussed.