The effect of hydrogen peroxide on the viability of tomato cells and of the fungal pathogen Cladosporium fulvum

An oxidative burst was previously demonstrated to be induced in tomato plants by race specific elicitors of the fungal pathogen Cladosporium fulvum . The in planta levels of H₂O₂estimated to occur during elicitor treatment, were compared with the levels required to show toxicity to host cells and to the fungal pathogen. Injection of Cf-9 tomato leaves with 100 m m H₂O₂caused an insignificant degree of necrosis and 1m H₂O₂was required to cause complete leaf necrosis comparable to that induced by the AVR9 elicitor. Assays with Cf-5 tomato cell suspensions confirmed the low toxicity of H₂O₂to tomato cells but, as expected, the addition of Fe²⁺with H₂O₂(or with intercellular fluids containing AVR5 elicitor) enhanced cell death as determined by the Evans Blue assay. Germination and germ tube growth of conidia of C. fulvum were significantly retarded by 4–5 m m H₂O₂, and at higher concentrations, death of germ tubes was observed (ED₅₀=22 m m), as determined by the fluorescein diacetate assay. The addition of Fe²⁺with H₂O₂had little effect on fungal growth or viability in vitro . These results suggest that the amount of H₂O₂accumulating during an elicitor-induced response in leaves may be sufficient to affect fungal colonization but not to affect viability of host cells unless the Fe²⁺status in the apoplast is in some way altered by the elicitor to facilitate OH^.production via the Fenton reaction.