Induction of systemic resistance to<Emphasis Type="Italic">Colletotrichum lindemuthianum</Emphasis> in bean by a benzothiadiazole derivative and rhizobacteria

Plants have developed mechanisms to resist secondary infection upon inoculation with a necrotizing pathogen, chemical treatment as well as treatment with some non-pathogenic microorganisms such as rhizosphere bacteria. This phenomenon has been variously described as induced systemic resistance (ISR) or systemic acquired resistance. In the present study, the chemical benzo(1,2,3)thiadiazole-7-carbothioic acid-S-methyl ester (BTH, acibenzolar-S-methyl), and the rhizobacteriaPseudomonas aeruginosa KMPCH andP. fluorescens WCS417 were tested for their ability to induce resistance toColletotrichum lindemuthianum in susceptible and moderately resistant bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). BTH induced local and systemic resistance when bean leaves were immersed in 10⁻³ to 10⁻⁷ M BTH 3 days before the challenge inoculation. At a high concentration (10⁻³ M), BTH induced resistance of the same order as resistance induced by the pathogenC. lindemuthianum, although at this high concentration BTH appeared to be phytotoxic. Soil and seed treatment with 1 mg kg⁻¹ BTH protected beans against anthracnose. BTH-mediated induced resistance was effective in susceptible and moderately resistant plants.P. aeruginosa KMPCH induced resistance in bean againstC. lindemuthianum only in a moderately resistant interaction. KMPCH-567, a salicylic acid mutant of KMPCH, failed to induce resistance, indicating that salicylic acid is important for KMPCH to induce resistance in the bean—C. lindemuthianum system.P.fluorescens WCS417 could induce resistance toC. lindemuthianum in a susceptible and in moderately resistant interactions. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Jan. 16, 2002.     

Seed treatment of peas with fosetyl-Al against Aphanomyces euteiches

In 1983, seed dressing of peas with fosetyl-Al (Aliette) compared favourably with all other treatments on a field heavily contaminated with foot and root rot pathogens. Experiments carried out in 1983 and 1984 could not establish the reason for this phenomenon. Artificial inoculation with the most frequently isolated pathogens (Fusarium oxysporum, Phoma medicaginis var.pinodella, Pythium ultimum andFusarium solani f.sp.pisi) of sterilized soil before planting treated seeds did not reproduce the field observations, but glasshouse experiments using soil from the experimental field did. Glasshouse experiments in 1989, afterAphanomyces euteiches had been identified as a frequently occurring pea pathogen in the Netherlands, confirmed the favourable effect of fosetyl-Al as a seed treatment whenA. euteiches was in the pathogen flora.Samenvatting In 1983 bleek op een zwaar met voetrotpathogenen besmet veld zaaizaadbehandeling van erwten met fosetyl-Al (Aliette) gunstig af te steken bij alle andere behandelingen. De oorzaak kon toen niet worden gevonden. Kunstmatige besmetting van gesterilisserde grond vóór het planten van behandelde zaden met de meest geïsoleerde pathogenen (Fusarium oxysporum, Phoma medicaginis var.pinodella, Pythium ultimum enFusarium solani f.sp.pisi) gaf resultaten die niet overeenstemden met die van het proefveld, maar kasproeven met grond van het proefveld deden dat wel. Nadat was aangetoond dat het erwtepathogeenAphanomyces euteiches in Nederland veel voorkomt, bevestigden nieuwe kasproeven in 1989 het gunstige effect van fosetyl-Al als zaaizaadbehandeling wanneerA. euteiches deel uitmaakt van de pathogene bodemflora.     

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.     

复合微生物菌剂对苹果再植病害的生防效果测定及拮抗菌株鉴定

为探究复合微生物菌剂对苹果再植病害的生防效果,以苹果砧木实生海棠幼苗为试材,通过盆栽试验测试了木美土里复合微生物菌剂对苹果再植病害的防治效果及对再植海棠的促生作用,然后对该菌剂的可分离微生物进行了分离纯化,并以尖孢镰刀菌Fusarium oxysporum菌株HS2为靶标菌,测试分离获得的10株菌株的拮抗效果,并对拮抗效果显著的1株真菌菌株和2株细菌菌株进行种类鉴定。结果表明,木美土里复合微生物菌剂对苹果再植病害的防治效果达87.78%;经该菌剂处理后,再植海棠苗的株高、茎粗、鲜重、干重及叶面积分别是对照处理的1.51、2.00、5.74、5.21和2.83倍,表明该菌剂有显著的促生作用。木美土里复合微生物菌剂对菌株HS2的抑制率达到68.59%,并从中分离到7株真菌菌株,3株细菌菌株。其中,拮抗效果高于80.00%的真菌菌株有1株,细菌菌株有2株。经鉴定,真菌菌株MMTL-1为哈茨木霉Trichoderma harzianum;细菌菌株BM-01和BM-03均为解淀粉芽胞杆菌Bacillus amyloliquefaciens。     

Genetic variation among <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium</Emphasis> isolates from onion,and resistance to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium</Emphasis> basal rot in related <Emphasis Type="Italic">Allium</Emphasis> species

The aim of this research was to study levels of resistance to Fusarium basal rot in onion cultivars and related Allium species, by using genetically different Fusarium isolates. In order to select genetically different isolates for disease testing, a collection of 61 Fusarium isolates, 43 of them from onion (Allium cepa), was analysed using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers. Onion isolates were collected in The Netherlands (15 isolates) and Uruguay (9 isolates), and received from other countries and fungal collections (19 isolates). From these isolates, 29 were identified as F. oxysporum, 10 as F. proliferatum, whereas the remaining four isolates belonged to F. avenaceum and F. culmorum. The taxonomic status of the species was confirmed by morphological examination, by DNA sequencing of the elongation factor 1-α gene, and by the use of species-specific primers for Fusarium oxysporum, F. proliferatum, and F. culmorum. Within F. oxysporum, isolates clustered in two clades suggesting different origins of F. oxysporum forms pathogenic to onion. These clades were present in each sampled region. Onion and six related Allium species were screened for resistance to Fusarium basal rot using one F. oxysporum isolate from each clade, and one F. proliferatum isolate. High levels of resistance to each isolate were found in Allium fistulosum and A. schoenoprasum accessions, whereas A. pskemense, A. roylei and A. galanthum showed intermediate levels of resistance. Among five A. cepa cultivars, ‘Rossa Savonese’ was also intermediately resistant. Regarding the current feasibility for introgression, A. fistulosum, A. roylei and A. galanthum were identified as potential sources for the transfer of resistance to Fusarium into onion.     

Characteristics of a <Emphasis Type="Italic">Plasmopara angustiterminalis</Emphasis> isolate from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xanthium strumarium</Emphasis>

Leaves of Xanthium strumarium infected with downy mildew were collected in the vicinity of a sunflower field in southern Hungary in 2003. Based on phenotypic characteristics of sporangiophores, sporangia and oospores as well as host preference the pathogen was classified as Plasmopara angustiterminalis. Additional phenotypic characters were investigated such as the size of sporangia, the number of zoospores per sporangium and the time-course of their release. Infection studies revealed infectivity of the P. angustiterminalis isolate to both X. strumarium and Helianthus annuus. Inoculation of the sunflower inbred line, HA-335 with resistance to all known P. halstedii pathotypes, resulted in profuse sporulation on cotyledons and formation of oospores in the bases of hypocotyls. Infections of sunflower differential lines often led to damping-off. Molecular genetic analysis using simple sequence repeat primers and nuclear rDNA sequences revealed clear differences to Plasmopara halstedii, the downy mildew pathogen of sunflower.     

Biological Seed Treatment of Cereals with Fresh and Long-term Stored Formulations of Clonostachys rosea: Biocontrol Efficacy Against Fusarium culmorum

In six field experiments, seed treatment with Clonostachys rosea (IK726) significantly reduced disease caused by Fusarium culmorum. IK726 was active against the pathogen at average soil temperatures at sowing ranging from 6.2 to 12 °C. Both in the field experiments and in growth chamber experiments conducted in sand, dried and stored conidia of IK726 controlled F. culmorum as effectively as freshly harvested conidia. A high correlation was found between disease index ratings from field experiments and from corresponding growth chamber sand tests. Amendment with the stickers Pelgel or Sepiret did not influence control activity. The effective dosages of IK726 (cfu/seed) were estimated in bioassays and were very similar for freshly harvested conidia and for dried conidia. With a density of > 5×10³ conidia per seed more than 80% disease control was repeatedly obtained with both types of conidia.     

十字花科根肿病生防菌副地衣芽胞杆菌ZF480的鉴定及其防效

为有效防控十字花科蔬菜生产中的毁灭性病害——根肿病,以尖孢镰孢菌Fusarium oxysporum和辣椒疫霉Phytophthora capsici为指示菌,利用平板对峙法对分离自土壤的1 198株细菌进行筛选,进通过盆栽试验筛选对十字花科根肿病具有良好防效的生防菌株,并基于形态学特征、生理生化特性及16S rDNA、gyrB和atpD多基因系统发育分析对生防菌株进行鉴定,同时测定其抑菌谱和田间防效。结果表明,通过对峙培养筛选获得115株有抑菌效果的生防菌株,采用盆栽试验获得1株对根肿病菌具有拮抗效果的菌株,命名为ZF480。结合形态学特征和系统发育分析结果将该菌株鉴定为副地衣芽胞杆菌Bacillus paralicheniformis。菌株ZF480对野油菜黄单胞野油菜变种Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris等10种病原菌具有拮抗效果,抑菌谱较宽,对白菜根肿病的盆栽防效和田间防效分别达到72.82%和64.08%。表明副地衣芽胞杆菌菌株ZF480对十字花科根肿病具有显著的防效,可作为生防菌进一步开发利用。     

Effect of antagonistic<Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium</Emphasis> spp. and of different commercial biofungicide formulations on Fusarium wilt of lettuce

Five experimental trials were carried out to test different biological control agents against Fusarium wilt of lettuce, cause byFusarium oxysporum f.sp.lactucae. In the presence of a very high disease incidence, the best results in terms of disease control as well as increased growth response were shown byTrichoderma harzianum T 22 (RootShield), which, at 3 gl ⁻¹ of substrate, provided very consistent results.F. oxysporum IF 23 gave good disease control but in two out of five trials reduced the biomass produced. Less consistent, but still significant results were provided byF oxysporium MSA 25, at 3 gl ⁻¹ of substrate, and byTrichoderma viride TV 1. The twoF. oxysporum agents Fo 251/2 and Fo 47 and the mixture ofT. harzianum + T. viride (Remedier) partially reduced disease incidence but were less effective than the above mentioned. Less interesting results were offered byStreptomyces griseoviridis (Mycostop). The results obtained show that biological control can play a role in the management of Fusarium wilt of lettuce.     

黄瓜炭疽病菌代谢物中抑菌活性成分研究

采用大孔吸附树脂提取和硅胶柱层析分离技术,从黄瓜炭疽病菌Colletotrichum orbiculare代谢物中获得一个抗真菌化合物,采用高分辨质谱、核磁共振波谱和红外光谱等技术鉴定了其化学结构,并评价了其对番茄灰霉病菌、西瓜枯萎病菌、烟草赤星病菌、苹果炭疽病菌和玉米弯孢病菌的孢子萌发和菌丝生长的抑制作用。结果表明:该化合物为间二羟基苯甲酸大环内酯类抗生素——根赤壳菌素;其对所有供试真菌的孢子萌发均未表现出明显的抑制活性,但对番茄灰霉病菌Botrytis cinerea的菌丝生长表现出很强的抑制作用。     

The potential of combining <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pasteuria penetrans</Emphasis> and neem (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Azadirachta indica</Emphasis>) formulations as a management system for root-knot nematodes on tomato

Initial applications of 10⁴ spores g⁻¹ of Pasteuria penetrans, and dried neem cake and leaves at 3 and 2% w:w, respectively, were applied to soil in pots. Juveniles of Meloidogyne javanica were added immediately to the pots (500, 5,000 or 10,000) before planting 6-week-old tomato seedlings. The tomatoes were sampled after 64 days; subsequently a second crop was grown for 59 days and a third crop for 67 days without further applications of P. penetrans and neem. There was significantly less root-galling in the P. penetrans combined with neem cake treatment at the end of the third crop and this treatment also had the greatest effect on the growth of the tomato plants. At the end of the third crop, 30% of the females were infected with P. penetrans in those treatments where spores had been applied at the start of the experiment. The effects of neem leaves and neem cake on the nematode population did not persist through the crop sequences but the potential for combining the amendments with a biological control agent such as P. penetrans is worthy of further evaluation.     

Laboratory evaluation of a botanical natural product (<Emphasis Type="Italic">AkseBio2</Emphasis>) against the pear psylla<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cacopsylla pyri</Emphasis>

A botanical natural product,AkseBio2, was evaluated under laboratory conditions for its oviposition deterrent, ovicidal and larvicidal (nymphicidal) effects against the pear psyllaCacopsylla pyri (L.) (Hemiptera: Psyllidae). The product exhibited a strong oviposition deterrent effect for winterform and summerform females and caused a reduction in the total number of eggs laid in both choice and no-choice assays. Significant mortalities in freshly laid eggs (0–48 h) and various nymphal stages of the pest were recorded in toxicity assays. At a concentration of 0.1% (formulation), the highest biological activity of the product was recorded against the young (1st and 2nd) nymphal stages (up to 87.4% mortality) in comparison with the other biological stages of the pest. It was less active against the older (3rd-5th) nymphs, causing 62.1% mortality at the same concentration. In assays with non-target organisms, a significant negative effect was not observed. There were no significant changes on treated plants up to 7 days after treatment in any trial, nor was there any phytotoxicity on plant tissue as a result ofAkseBio2 treatments. The results suggest that the product can be used in psylla control instead of synthetic insecticides and may serve as an integrated pest management (IPM) component in pear orchards. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting July 14, 2004.     

Fusarium head blight evaluation in wheat transgenic plants expressing the maize <Emphasis Type="Italic">b-32</Emphasis> antifungal gene

The maize gene b-32, normally expressed in the maize (Zea mays) endosperm, encodes for a RIP (Ribosome Inactivating Protein) characterised by antifungal activity. Transgenic wheat plants were obtained via biolistic transformation, in which the b-32 gene is driven by the 35SCaMV promoter in association with the bar gene as a selectable marker. Plants were brought to homozygosity through genetic analysis of progeny and pathogenicity tests were performed on the fourth generation. Six homozygous b-32 wheat lines were characterised. All plants had a normal phenotype, not distinguishable from the control cv. Veery except for slightly smaller size, flowered and set seeds. Western blot analyses confirmed b-32 expression during the plant life cycle in the various tissues. Each line differed in the b-32 content in leaf protein extracts and the transgenic protein expression level was maintained at least up to 10 days after anthesis. Pathogenicity tests for Fusarium head blight (FHB) were performed on the b-32 transgenic wheat lines in comparison to the parental cv. Veery. Resistance to FHB was evaluated by the single floret injection inoculation method on immature spikes with spores of Fusarium culmorum. In all the transgenic lines, a similar reduction in FHB symptoms, not dependent on the level of b-32 protein, has been observed (20% and 30% relative to the control, respectively 7 and 14 days after inoculation). Percentage of tombstone kernels at maturity was also recorded; in all transgenic lines disease control for this parameter was around 25%. The data obtained indicate that maize b-32 was effective as in vivo antifungal protein reducing FHB symptoms in wheat lines expressing the maize RIP protein.     

玉米内生菌L10的分离、鉴定及拮抗活性

为获得对玉米茎腐病主要病原菌禾谷镰孢Fusarium graminearum有明显拮抗作用的玉米内生菌,采用平板对峙法从成熟健康玉米茎秆中筛选禾谷镰孢拮抗菌株,并分析其抗菌谱;通过形态特征、生理生化特性及16S rDNA序列分析进行菌种鉴定;利用盆栽生防试验检测其对玉米茎腐病的防治效果。结果表明,共分离获得了164株玉米内生细菌菌株,其中L10菌株对禾谷镰孢具有较好的抑制效果,抑菌圈半径达1.68 cm;该菌对玉米大斑病菌Setosphaeria turcica、层出镰孢F. proliferatum、禾谷镰孢F. graminearum、拟轮枝镰孢F. verticilliodes、玉米弯孢叶斑病菌Curvularia lunata、玉米小斑病菌Bipolaris maydis、立枯丝核菌Rhizoctonia solani、茄链格孢Alternaria solani共8种植物病原菌均有拮抗作用,尤其对禾谷镰孢抑制效果最佳;结合形态特征、生理生化性质及16S rDNA序列分析,将L10菌株鉴定为多粘类芽胞杆菌Paenibacillus polymyxa。L10菌株脂肽类物质对禾谷镰孢菌具有较好的抑制活性,且盆栽生防试验结果显示该菌株对玉米茎腐病具有一定的防治效果。表明菌株L10对玉米镰孢茎腐病的防治具有一定潜力。     

小麦茎基腐病生防菌株YB-161的分离鉴定及防效测定

为筛选防治小麦茎基腐病的高效生防菌株,采用稀释涂布法从小麦茎基腐病病土中分离细菌,以假禾谷镰孢Fusarium pseudograminearum为靶标菌,通过平板对峙培养法和室内盆栽试验筛选优良菌株并测定其田间防治效果,分析优良菌株发酵滤液对假禾谷镰孢的抑菌能力,并结合形态特征、Biolog微生物自动鉴定系统和gyrA序列分析对其进行种类鉴定,以及测定该菌株的抑菌谱。结果表明,10份供试土样中共分离到98株细菌,对假禾谷镰孢的菌丝生长抑制率超过40.00%的菌株有14株,其中菌株YB-161对假禾谷镰孢的菌丝生长抑制率最高,达63.50%。室内盆栽试验结果显示,菌株YB-161处理小麦的病情指数最低,为31.40,对小麦茎基腐病的防治效果最好,为68.15%,其对小麦也表现出较好的促生作用。田间调查结果显示,菌株YB-161菌液拌种处理对小麦茎基腐病的田间防治效果高于52.35%,并对小麦具有一定的增产作用。菌株YB-161的发酵滤液5倍稀释液和10倍稀释液对假禾谷镰孢的菌落抑制率分别达66.67%和44.33%,该菌株被鉴定为解淀粉芽胞杆菌Bacillus amyloliquefaciens。此外,菌株YB-161对辣椒炭疽病菌Colletotrichum capisci、烟草疫霉病菌Phytophthora parasitica等5种植物病原真菌均有较好的拮抗作用。表明生防菌株YB-161对绿色防控小麦茎基腐病具有良好的开发利用潜能。     

Screening of cultivated and wild adzuki bean for resistance to race 3 of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cadophora gregata</Emphasis> f. sp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">adzukicola</Emphasis>, cause of brown stem rot

Two diseases of adzuki bean, brown stem rot (BSR, caused by Cadophora gregata f. sp. adzukicola) and adzuki bean Fusarium wilt (AFW, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. adzukicola), are serious problems in Hokkaido and have been controlled using cultivars with multiple resistance. However, because a new race of BSR, designated race 3, was identified, sources of parental adzuki bean for resistance to race 3 were needed. Therefore, we examined 67 cultivars and lines of cultivated and wild adzuki bean maintained at the Tokachi Agricultural Experiment Station using a root-dip inoculation method. Consequently, nine adzuki bean cultivars, one wild adzuki bean accession and 30 lines (including two lines resistant to all the three races of BSR and AFW) were confirmed to be resistant or tolerant to race 3 of BSR, and we found a cultivar Akamame as well as a wild adzuki bean Acc2515 to be a new source for a resistance gene to the race 3. This cultivar also holds promise as a source of resistance against other races of BSR and AFW.     

Characterisation of sunflower root colonisation by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phoma macdonaldii</Emphasis>

Phoma macdonaldii, the causal agent of black stem disease of sunflower (Helianthus annuus), also attacks roots and collars of the plants, resulting in early death. Totally resistant lines do not exist for infection of the aerial parts, but tolerant lines have been characterised. This paper presents a study on colonisation of a partially resistant and a susceptible sunflower line by P. macdonaldii. The fungus was transformed with a constitutively expressed reporter gene encoding the jellyfish green fluorescent protein via Agrobacterium tumefaciens, and colonisation of sunflower roots by this transformed strain was studied by various microscopy techniques including confocal and scanning electron microscopy. The results show that penetration of the fungus into the root occurred through natural fissures or through the epidermis and was similar in both lines. In contrast, the colonisation rate of the stele was reduced in the partially resistant line, and the morphology of the fungal hyphae was also affected. The effect on hyphal morphology was strongest in the stele, indicating a localised production of defence compounds in this line.     

Molecular characterization and endophytic nature of the root-associated fungus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Meliniomyces variabilis</Emphasis> (LtVB3)

The root-associated fungus LtVB3 was formerly reported as a potential, new biocontrol agent of Verticillium yellows of Chinese cabbage and Fusarium wilt of tomato. According to molecular phylogenetic analysis of the ITS 1-5.8S rDNA-ITS 2 gene regions and morphological characteristics, LtVB3 is here identified as Meliniomyces variabilis, a recently described species [formerly called “Variable White Taxon” (VWT)] in a new genus erected to accommodate sterile fungi with phylogenetic affinities to Rhizoscyphus ericae, an ericoid mycorrhizal fungus. In vitro inoculation experiments showed that LtVB3 colonized the roots of torch azalea and eucalyptus; however, growth was enhanced only in azalea but not in eucalyptus. Hyphae of M. variabilis formed intracellular structures typical of ericoid mycorrhizas in epidermal cells of azalea roots but did not produce any typical ectomycorrhizal structures with or within root cells of either host. In LtVB3-treated eucalyptus roots, some cells in the epidermal and cortical layers had wall appositions and thickenings, which appeared to restrict fungal growth.     

木霉菌颗粒剂对玉米茎腐病防治的应用

为明确棘孢木霉菌Trichoderma asperellum不同颗粒剂配方对玉米茎腐病的防效,通过人工接种盆栽试验比较分析其防效,同时进行多基点田间试验以筛选对茎腐病防效明显并具有增产效应的木霉菌生防颗粒剂。结果表明:盆栽试验中,2号木霉菌颗粒剂对于苗期玉米茎腐病的防效最高,为65.57%,3号木霉菌颗粒剂对于成株期玉米茎腐病的防效最好,为40.00%;1~4号4种木霉菌颗粒剂均能提高玉米的出苗率、株高、鲜重、干重和根长,表明木霉菌颗粒剂对玉米生长具有促进作用。在全国10余个综合试验站对1号木霉菌颗粒剂的田间防效试验结果显示,对玉米茎腐病的防效较好,均在50%以上,最高可达80%,玉米增产效果在8%以上。表明木霉菌颗粒剂具有良好的生物防治效果及增产作用。     

Benzothiadiazole Activates Resistance in Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) to the Root-Parasitic Weed Orobanche cuman

ABSTRACT The study was conducted to evaluate the potential of induced resistance to infestation of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) by the parasitic weed Orobanche cumana Wallr. Treatment of sunflower seeds with 40 ppm of benzo(1,2,3)thiadiazole-7-carbothioic acid S-methyl ester (BTH) for 36 h completely prevented infection in root chambers. In pot studies using 2.86 x 10(-4) g of Orobanche seeds per gram of soil as inoculum, the total number of O. cumana shoots was reduced by 84 and 95% in the 60-ppm BTH treatment in the first and second trial, respectively. Evaluation of the disease incidences revealed that attachment of O. cumana at the sunflower root and the stage of early penetration was reduced in the BTH-treated plants. Chemical analysis of root extracts revealed synthesis of the phytoalexin scopoletin and of hydrogen peroxide in the BTH-treated sunflower roots, but no increase in lignification. Western blot analysis demonstrated accumulation of the pathogenesis-related protein chitinase in roots and stems of induced resistant plants. These results show that the phenomenon of induced resistance is not restricted to viral, bacterial, and fungal disease and demonstrate the great potential of this protection strategy as an effective component of future plant production systems.