Identification and characterization of differentially expressed novel miRNAs (21–24 nt) in a Macrophomina phaseolina resistant RIL line of jute (Corchorus capsularis L.)

A RIL population of jute developed by crossing one resistant accession CIM 036 and a susceptible variety JRC 412 was used to identify novel defence related miRNAs activated upon challenged inoculation with stem rot pathogen Macrophomina phaseolina. About a total of 15.7 million reads were generated from the resistant line with the read length of 1 × 50 bp. Here, we identified nine mature novel microRNAs which passed Minimum Free Energy (MFE Kcal/mol) criteria. Target site and secondary structure were predicted and most of them showed ubiquitination and selective autophagy activity with high expression value. Five novel miRNAs viz. Candidate_41, Candidate_9, Candidate_66, Candidate_65 and Candidate_8 had free energy less than −25 kcal/mol. Known microRNAs viz. miR-845b and miR-166 superfamily are abundantly expressed with high expression value. The sequence of jute miR-845b superfamily is identical to that of Arabidopsis thaliana except at 18th position, but unlike in A. thaliana it targets the coding sequence for the P-loop motif in the mRNA sequences for disease resistance proteins with nucleotide binding site (NBS) and leucine-rich repeat (LRR) motifs. In-silico analysis suggested that miR-845b and miR-166 superfamily provided NBS-LRR and ROS mediated defence and subsequently expression of novel microRNAs with selective autophagy activity enabled multi-layered defence cascade against M. phaseolina in jute.     

Induction of Resistance to Penicillium digitatum in Grapefruit by β-Aminobutyric Acid

-Aminobutyric acid (BABA), an inducer of pathogen resistance in plants, induced disease resistance in reproductive parts of the plant, such as grapefruit peel tissue. Application of BABA to specific wound sites on the fruit peel surface induced resistance to Penicillium digitatum, the main postharvest pathogen of citrus fruit, in a concentration-dependent manner, being most effective at 20mM, and rather less effective at either higher or lower concentrations. The effect of BABA in inducing resistance to P. digitatum in the fruit peel surface was local and limited to the vicinity (within 1–2cm) of the BABA-treated site. In addition to inducing pathogen resistance, increasing concentrations of BABA (from 1 to 100mM) also exhibited direct antifungal activity and inhibited P. digitatum spore germination and germ tube elongation in vitro. The induction of resistance to P. digitatum by BABA was accompanied by the activation of various pathogen defense responses in grapefruit peel tissue, including activation of chitinase gene expression and protein accumulation after 48h, and an increase in phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) activity after 72h.     

Resistance of wheat to Mycosphaerella graminicola involves early and late peaks of gene expression

Large-scale cDNA-AFLP profiling identified numerous genes with increased expression during the resistance response of wheat to the Septoria tritici blotch fungus, Mycosphaerella graminicola. To test whether these genes were associated with resistance responses, primers were designed for the 14 that were most strongly up-regulated, and their levels of expression were measured at 12 time points from 0 to 27 days after inoculation (DAI) in two resistant and two susceptible cultivars of wheat by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. None of these genes was expressed constitutively in the resistant wheat cultivars. Instead, infection of wheat by M. graminicola induced changes in expression of each gene in both resistant and susceptible cultivars over time. The four genes chitinase, phenylalanine ammonia lyase, pathogenesis-related protein PR-1, and peroxidase were induced from about 10- to 60-fold at early stages (3 h–1 DAI) during the incompatible interactions but were not expressed at later time points. Nine other genes (ATPase, brassinosteroid-6-oxidase, peptidylprolyl isomerase, peroxidase 2, 40S ribosomal protein, ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase, putative protease inhibitor, methionine sulfoxide reductase, and an RNase S-like protein precursor) had bimodal patterns with both early (1–3 DAI) and late (12–24 DAI) peaks of expression in at least one of the resistant cultivars, but low if any induction in the two susceptible cultivars. The remaining gene (a serine carboxypeptidase) had a trimodal pattern of expression in the resistant cultivar Tadinia. These results indicate that the resistance response of wheat to M. graminicola is not completed during the first 24 h after contact with the pathogen, as thought previously, but instead can extend into the period from 18 to 24 DAI when fungal growth increases dramatically in compatible interactions. Many of these genes have a possible function in signal transduction or possibly as regulatory elements. Expression of the PR-1 gene at 12 h after inoculation was much higher in resistant compared to susceptible recombinant-inbred lines (RILs) segregating for the Stb4 and Stb8 genes for resistance. Therefore, analysis of gene expression could provide a faster method for separating resistant from susceptible lines in research programs. Significant differential expression patterns of the defense-related genes between the resistant and susceptible wheat cultivars and RILs after inoculation with M. graminicola suggest that these genes may play a major role in the resistance mechanisms of wheat.     

Host status and reaction of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Medicago truncatula</Emphasis> accessions to infection by three major pathogens of pea (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pisum sativum</Emphasis>) and alfalfa (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Medicago sativa</Emphasis>)

Ditylenchus dipsaci, the stem nematode of alfalfa (Medicago sativa), Mycosphaerella pinodes, cause of Ascochyta blight in pea (Pisum sativum) and Aphanomyces euteiches, cause of pea root rot, result in major yield losses in French alfalfa and pea crops. These diseases are difficult to control and the partial resistances currently available are not effective enough. Medicago truncatula, the barrel medic, is the legume model for genetic studies, which should lead to the identification and characterization of new resistance genes for pathogens. We evaluated a collection of 34 accessions of M. truncatula and nine accessions from three other species (two from M. italica, six from M. littoralis and one from M. polymorpha) for resistance to these three major diseases. We developed screening tests, including standard host references, for each pathogen. Most of the accessions tested were resistant to D. dipsaci, with only three accessions classified as susceptible. A very high level of resistance to M. pinodes was observed among the accessions, none of which was susceptible to this pathogen. Conversely, a high level of variation, from resistant to susceptible accessions, was identified in response to infection by A. euteiches.     

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.     

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.     

Analysis of head and leaf reaction towards <Emphasis Type="Italic">Microdochium nivale</Emphasis>

This research examined the variation in the response of eight commercial wheat cultivars to Microdochium nivale isolates using both in vivo FHB tests (AUDPC and RHW measurements) and in vitro detached leaf assays (LGR). Irrespective of fungal variety, the two Italian cvs Fortore and Norba exhibited the greatest amount of visual disease symptoms (mean AUDPC=2.2 and 2.3, respectively), being significantly more susceptible than the other six cultivars (AUDPC 1.24) (P < 0.05). Irrespective of fungal variety, the Italian cv. Norba and the Irish cv. Falstaff were more susceptible than the other cultivars (except Fatima 2) in terms of RHW (P < 0.05), while the cvs Fortore, GK Othalom and Consort were more resistant than the other five cultivars (P < 0.05). In the detached leaf assay, the Hungarian cv. GK Othalom and the Italian cv. Norba were more susceptible (mean LGR=0.79 and 0.81 mm day^–1, respectively) to M. nivalethan the other six cultivars (mean LGR=0.51–0.72) (P < 0.05). Analysis of the relationship between head and leaf reaction to M. nivaleinfection revealed no significant correlation.     

BABA effects on the behaviour of potato cultivars infected by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phytophthora infestans</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium solani</Emphasis>

Since most plants possess resistance mechanisms which can be induced upon pre-treatment with a variety of chemical compounds, the use of β-aminobutyric acid (BABA) as a defence inducer without reported toxic effect on the environment was studied. The aim of this work was to analyse the effectiveness of BABA to induce resistance against Phytophthora infestans and Fusarium solani in potato cultivars differing in their level of resistance to late blight. The behaviour of some components of biochemical mechanisms by which BABA increases resistance against P. infestans, as well as the effect of BABA on the activity of a potential pathogenic factor of F. solani, were studied. Plants with four applications of BABA throughout the crop cycle produced tubers more resistant to P. infestans and F. solani than non-treated plants. In addition, tuber slices from treated plants, inoculated with P. infestans, showed an increase in phenol and phytoalexin content. The aspartyl protease StAP1 accumulation was also higher in tubers obtained from treated plants and inoculated with P. infestans. This result was observed only in the more resistant potato cv. Pampeana, early after infection. In the potato–F. solani interaction, infected tubers coming from BABA-treated plants showed minor fungal proteolytic activity than infected, non-treated ones. For potato cvs Pampeana and Bintje, the BABA treatment improved the yield of harvested tubers. The number of tubers per plant and total weight of harvested tubers was greater for those obtained from treated plants with two early or four applications of BABA. The results show that the BABA treatment increases the resistance of potatoes but the degree of increase depends on the original level of resistance present in each cultivar.     

Inactivation of Macrophomina phaseolina Propagules during Composting and Effect of Composts on Dry Root Rot Severity and on Seed Yield of Clusterbean

Survival of a heat-tolerant pathogen Macrophomina phaseolina, causing dry root rot of clusterbean, was studied by incorporation and retrieval of infected residue samples at various stages of the composting process of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) and clusterbean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba) residues. During the heating phase, temperatures varied from 48–51°C at 30cm and 60–62°C at 60cm depth in compost pits. Reduction in survival of M. phaseolina propagules (13–23%) was significantly higher in the residues enriched with 4% urea-N and kept at 60cm compared to 2% urea-N and at 30cm. However, a heat phase (48–62°C) was not enough to completely eradicate M. phaseolina propagules from infected residues. Further reductions (54–61%) in survived propagules were achieved by sub-lethal temperatures (48–53°C) when moistened compost materials were exposed to heat during summer days. Beneficial effects of composts were ascertained on dry root rot intensity, seed yield of clusterbean and densities of M. phaseolina, Nitrosomonas and antagonists in soil. In a two-year field study, all the composts significantly reduced plant mortality due to dry root rot and increased the yield of clusterbean. The highest disease suppression and yield promotion were recorded in soil amended with pearl millet compost and cauliflower leaf residue compost, respectively. Soil amendment with compost also lead to a significant reduced density of M. phaseolina and an increased density of antagonistic actinomycetes, lytic bacteria and Nitrosomonas. Among composts, greater potential of cauliflower compost in enhancing population of antagonists in soil was discernible.     

Ultrastructural and immunocytochemical investigation of pathogen development and host responses in resistant and susceptible wheat spikes infected by Fusarium culmorum

Pathogen development and host responses in wheat spikes of resistant and susceptible cultivars infected by Fusarium culmorum causing Fusarium head blight (FHB), were investigated by means of electron microscopy as well as immunogold labelling techniques. The studies revealed similarities in the infection process and the initial spreading of the pathogen in wheat spikes between resistant and susceptible cultivars. However, the pathogen’s development was obviously more slow in the resistant cultivars as in comparison to a susceptible one. The structural defence reactions such as the formation of thick layered appositions and large papillae were essentially more pronounced in the infected host tissues of the resistant cultivars, than in the susceptible one. β -1,3-glucan was detected in the appositions and papillae. Furthermore, immunogold labelling of lignin demonstrated that there were no differences in the lignin contents of the wheat spikes between susceptible and resistant cultivars regarding the uninoculated healthy tissue, but densities of lignin in host cell walls of the infected wheat spikes differed distinctly between resistant and susceptible cultivars. The lignin content in the cell walls of the infected tissues of the susceptible wheat cultivar increased slightly, while the lignin accumulated intensely in the host cell walls of the infected wheat spikes of the resistant cultivars. These findings indicate that lignin accumulation in the infected wheat spikes may play an important role in resistance to the spreading of the pathogen in the host tissues. Immunogold labelling of the Fusarium toxin DON in the infected lemma showed the same labelling patterns in the host tissues of resistant and susceptible cultivars. However, there were distinct differences in the toxin concentration between the tissues of the susceptible and resistant cultivars. At the early stage of infection, the labelling densities for DON in resistant cultivars were significantly lower than those in the susceptible one. The present study indicates that the FHB resistant cultivars are able to develop active defence reactions during infection and spreading of the pathogen in the host tissues. The lower accumulation of the toxin DON in the tissues of the infected spikes of resistant cultivars which results from the host’s defence mechanisms may allow more intensive defence responses to the pathogen by the host.     

Induced resistance in potato to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phytphthora infestans</Emphasis>—effects of BABA in greenhouse and field tests with different potato varieties

We have investigated to what degree induced resistance with β-aminobutyric acid (BABA) can protect potato from late blight infection under Swedish field conditions and if synergistic interactions occur if BABA is applied in combination with a commonly used fungicide, Shirlan. In greenhouse experiments we also investigated the durability of BABA induced resistance, the dose-response relationships in susceptible (Bintje) and partially resistant (Ovatio, Suberb) cultivars and effects of combined applications of BABA and fungicides. We found a clear effect of BABA on P. infestans infection of greenhouse grown potato plants. The lesion sizes were reduced by on average 40–50% compared to untreated control. However, this effect lasted for only 4–5 days after BABA treatment and then the efficacy was lower. When BABA was given in combination with the fungicides it appeared to have an additive effect both in greenhouse and field experiments. Higher concentrations of BABA gave a stronger protective effect. The partially resistant cultivars Ovatio and Superb reacted to lower concentrations of BABA where no effect was found in susceptible Bintje. According to our field data, 20–25% reduction of the fungicide dose in combination with BABA gave on average the same result on late blight development as full dose Shirlan alone; while reduced dose of Shirlan alone sometimes resulted in less effective protection. Our results indicate that induced resistance could be used in practice in combinations with fungicides in order to reduce the amount of toxic compounds under north European conditions.     

Regulation of defense-related enzymes associated with bacterial spot resistance in Tomato

Twenty tomato (Solanum lycopersicon) cultivars were screened for resistance against bacterial spot disease incited byXanthomonas axonopodis pv.vesicatoria under field conditions with and without pathogen infection. Screening was done by artificially inoculating aX. axonopodis pv.vesicatoria suspension to 4-week-old tomato seedlings and observing them for typical symptoms of the disease. Seedlings were categorized into highly resistant, resistant, susceptible and highly susceptible cultivars on the basis of disease incidence. Tomato cultivars were screened for defense-related enzymes, total phenols and lignin contents. The temporal patterns of all these enzymes were estimated with a moderately susceptible tomato cultivar. Native PAGE analysis of both peroxidase (POX) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) was carried out for the time course of enzyme activities and also by selecting three different tomato cultivars, following infection with the pathogen. Based on the inducible amounts of these enzymes upon pathogen infection, the tomato cultivars were correlated with the disease incidence under field conditions. A significant (P≤0.05) correlation was observed between the degree of host resistance and the enzyme levels. In highly resistant tomato cultivars the enzyme levels, total phenols and lignin contents were increased in comparison with highly susceptible tomato cultivars. Isoform analysis of POX and PPO enzymes indicated a clear difference between resistant and susceptible tomato cultivars in the number of isoforms and also in the intensity of each isoform in the presence of pathogen infection. The possible regulation of defense-related enzymes in imparting host resistance is discussed. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting March 11, 2008.     

β-aminobutyric acid protects <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica napus</Emphasis> plants from infection by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Leptosphaeria maculans.</Emphasis> Resistance induction or a direct antifungal effect?

Resistance to infection in plants can be induced by treatment with various chemicals. One such compound is β-aminobutyric acid (BABA). Its positive effect on disease resistance has been noted in several pathosystems. Here we demonstrate that treatment with BABA protects Brassica napus plants from infection by the fungal pathogen Leptosphaeria maculans. Surprisingly, BABA also displayes in vitro antifungal activity against L. maculans with EC₅₀ similar to the fungicide tebuconazole. Both spore germination and hyphal growth were affected. The toxic effect can be reverted by addition of trypton to the culture medium. We hypothesised that BABA might inhibit inorganic nitrogen assimilation. Suppression of disease progression in plants and antifungal activity in vitro was weaker for α-aminobutyric acid and negligible for γ-aminobutyric acid. In contrast to a resistance inducer benzothiadiazole, the effect of BABA on disease development was nearly independent of the timing of treatment, indicating possible antifungal activity in planta. On the other hand, quantification of multiple hormones and an expression analysis have shown that treatment with BABA induces a synthesis of salicylic acid (SA) and expression of SA marker gene PR-1, but no evidence was observed for priming of SA responses to L. maculans. While we have not conclusively demonstrated how BABA suppresses the disease progression, our results do indicate that antifungal activity is another mechanism by which BABA can protect plants from infection.     

Infection of mungbean seed by Macrophomina phaseolina is more likely to result from localized pod infection than from systemic plant infection

The ubiquitous fungal pathogen Macrophomina phaseolina is best known as causing charcoal rot and premature death when host plants are subject to post‐flowering stress. Overseas reports of M. phaseolina causing a rapid rot during the sprouting of Australian mungbean seed resulted in an investigation of the possible modes of infection of seed. Isolations from serial portions of 10 mungbean plants naturally infected with the pathogen revealed that on most plants there were discrete portions of infected tissue separated by apparently healthy tissue. The results from these studies, together with molecular analysis of isolates collected from infected tissue on two of the plants, suggested that aerial infection of aboveground parts by different isolates is common. Inoculations of roots and aboveground parts of mungbean plants at nine temperature × soil moisture incubation combinations and of detached green pods strongly supported the concept that seed infection results from infection of pods by microsclerotia, rather than from hyphae growing systemically through the plant after root or stem infection. This proposal is reinforced by anecdotal evidence that high levels of seed infection are common when rainfall occurs during pod fill, and by the isolation of M. phaseolina from soil peds collected on pods of mungbean plants in the field. However, other experiments showed that when inoculum was placed within 130 mm of a green developing pod and a herbicide containing paraquat and diquat was sprayed on the inoculated plants, M. phaseolina was capable of some systemic growth from vegetative tissue into the pods and seeds.     

拟南芥转录因子IDD4不同突变体对灰葡萄孢菌的抗性分析

为明确IDD家族IDD4基因在拟南芥Arabidopsis thaliana抵抗灰葡萄孢菌Botrytis cinerea侵染过程中的作用,通过统计病情指数检测拟南芥野生型（wild type,WT）植株、过表达植株IDD4-OE和缺失突变体idd4植株感染灰葡萄孢菌情况,利用组织染色检测叶片细胞死亡和H₂O₂的积累情况,采用实时荧光定量PCR（real-time quantitative-PT-PCR,qRT-PCR）技术分析灰葡萄孢菌肌动蛋白基因Bc. ACTIN在3种植株叶片中的表达情况,并施加0.1 mmol/L外源水杨酸（salicylic acid,SA）后测定IDD4-OE植株的病情指数。结果显示,不同株系对灰葡萄孢菌的抗性由高到低依次为idd4＞WT＞IDD4-OE,IDD4-OE植株中病原菌感染部位的寄主细胞死亡程度比idd4植株严重。染色结果表明,病原菌侵染拟南芥后4 h,接种部位已有H₂O₂积累。qRT-PCR反应结果显示,Bc. ACTIN在IDD4-OE中比在idd4植株中的表达水平更高,表明灰葡萄孢菌在IDD4-OE植株中的繁殖速率更快。对IDD4-OE植株外源施加SA后,其病情指数、Bc. ACTIN表达量与WT植株间均无显著差异,说明SA能将感病植株的抗性提高至WT植株的水平,表明IDD4作为负调控因子参与了拟南芥对灰葡萄孢菌的抗性调控,SA在其中发挥着重要作用。     

黏虫丝氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂基因的克隆及抗球孢白僵菌功能分析

为探究丝氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂（serine protease inhibitor,Serpin）基因在黏虫Mythimna separata生长发育及免疫防御等过程中发挥的作用,在黏虫转录组中获得Serpin基因的cDNA序列,采用实时荧光定量PCR技术分析Serpin在黏虫不同发育阶段和不同组织中的表达水平,并通过RNA干扰技术分析Serpin在黏虫抗球孢白僵菌Beauveria bassiana过程中发挥的作用。结果显示,获得2个黏虫Serpin基因,命名为MsSerpin-4和Mserpin-5,其cDNA全长序列分别为1 938 bp和2 618 bp,开放阅读框分别为1 188 bp和1 197 bp,分别编码395个和398个氨基酸,GenBank登录号分别为MZ577062和MZ577063。2个基因在黏虫不同龄期和不同组织内均有表达,在成虫期的相对表达量最高,在1龄幼虫期的相对表达量最低;在中肠中的相对表达量最高,在唾腺中的相对表达量最低。RNA干扰6 h时对MsSerpin-4和Mserpin-5表达的抑制效果最好,抑制率分别为52.57%和49.15%;MsSerpin-4和Mserpin-5的表达被抑制后,黏虫对球孢白僵菌更敏感,校正死亡率分别提高了31.47%和14.62%。表明黏虫2个MsSerpin均参与了被球孢白僵菌侵染后的免疫反应,可为后续黏虫的生物防治提供新靶标。     

Local and systemic resistance to fungal pathogens triggered by an AVR9-mediated hypersensitive response in tomato and oilseed rape carrying the Cf-9 resistance gene

Tomato and transgenic oilseed rape plants expressing the Cf-9 resistance gene develop a hypersensitive response (HR) after injection of the corresponding Avr9 gene product. It was investigated whether induction of a HR conferred resistance to different fungal pathogens in tomato and oilseed rape. Induction of an AVR9 mediated HR at the pathogen infection site delayed the development of the biotrophs Oidium lycopersicum in tomato and Erysiphe polygoni in oilseed rape, but enhanced the development of the necrotrophs Botrytis cinerea and Alternaria solani in tomato and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in oilseed rape. Interestingly, delayed fungal disease development was observed in plant tissues surrounding the HR lesion regardless of whether a necrotrophic or biotrophic pathogen was used. In tomato, AVR9 injection induced systemic expression of PR1, PR2 and PR3 defence genes but did not induce systemic resistance to O. lycopersicum, B. cinerea or A. solani. In oilseed rape, AVR9 injection temporarily induced systemic resistance to Leptosphaeria maculans and E. polygoni, but did not induce detectable systemic expression of PR1, PR2 or Cxc750. These results give new insights into the potential uses of an induced HR to engineer disease resistance.