Virus-specific expression of systemic acquired resistance in tobacco mosaic virus- and tobacco necrosis virus-infected ‘Samsun NN’ and ‘Samsun’ tobacco

Systemic acquired resistance induced in intact ‘Samsun NN’ tobacco plants by either tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) or tobacco necrosis virus (TNV) was more effective against challenge inoculation with the same than with the other of the two viruses. However, in trimmed ‘Samsun NN’ plants resistance induced by either of these viruses was stronger against TMV than against TNV. In intact ‘Samsun’ tobacco plants TNV induced a systemic resistance against itself identical to the one expressed in ‘Samsun NN’. Moreover, it induced systemic resistance against TMV as based on a decrease in TMV content in challeng-inoculated leaves. These observations indicate that systemic acquired resistance is not limited to combinations in which both inducing and challenging virus give rise to a hypersensitive reaction, and further point to virus-specific factors regulating the extent of resistance expressed.