Induction of hydrolytic enzymes and antifungal in vitro activity inS. tuberosum subsp.andigena after infection withFusarium solani f. sp.eumartii

Summary Fusarium solani (Mart.) Sacc. f. sp.eumartii (Carp.) Snyder & Hansen is the causative agent of two important types of disease in potato (Solanum tuberosum) plants: wilt in stems and leaves and dry rot in tubers. The aim of this work was to study the molecular response of the potato to fungal attack. Micropropagated plantlets were tested, using a biological assay to detect antifungal proteins. An inhibitory activity of spore germination was detected in protein fractions from infected plantlets 7 days after inoculation with the pathogen. In addition, β-1,3-glucanase activity (glucanase III) was measured in protein fractions with antifungal activity. Induction of hydrolytic enzymes and antifungal activity in infected plantlets ofSolanum tuberosum subp.andigena suggests that it could be a suitable source of resistance genes.