Pathotoxin-induced disease resistance in plants

Primary leaves of bean plants treated with nonphytotoxic concentrations of the pathotoxin victorin were rendered highly resistant to two plant viruses. Leaves treated with higher concentrations of victorin became necrotic. These effects on plants that are resistant to victorin and to the fungus that produces it lend support to the hypothesis that activation of a defensive self-repair mechanism may account for resistance to this highly selective pathotoxin.