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Activation of defence responses to P hytophthora infestans in potato by BABA
Author(s) -
Bengtsson T.,
Holefors A.,
Witzell J.,
Andreasson E.,
Liljeroth E.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
plant pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.928
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1365-3059
pISSN - 0032-0862
DOI - 10.1111/ppa.12069
Subject(s) - phytophthora infestans , biology , cultivar , fludioxonil , blight , fungicide , callose , hypersensitive response , horticulture , pathogenesis related protein , salicylic acid , plant disease resistance , elicitor , botany , solanaceae , biochemistry , cell wall , gene
Late blight caused by Phytophthora infestans is one of the most devastating diseases of the potato crop. Resistance breeding and current fungicides are unable to control the rapidly evolving P . infestans and new control strategies are urgently needed. This study examined mechanisms of dl ‐ β ‐aminobutyric acid ( BABA )‐induced resistance ( IR ) in the potato– P . infestans system. Leaves from two cultivars that differ in their degree of resistance, B intje and O vatio, were analysed after foliar treatment with BABA . Rapid activation of various defence responses and a significant reduction in P . infestans growth were observed in leaves treated with BABA . In the more resistant cultivar, O vatio, the activation was both faster and stronger than in B intje. Microscopic analysis of leaves treated with BABA revealed induction of small hypersensitive response ( HR )‐like lesions surrounded by callose, as well as production of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ). Molecular and chemical analyses revealed soluble phenols such as arbutin and chlorogenic acid and activation of PR ‐1. These results show a direct activation of defence responses in potato, rather than priming as reported for other plant species. They also show that the efficiency of BABA ‐ IR differs between cultivars, which highlights the importance of taking all aspects into consideration when establishing new methods for disease management.