Processos celulares envolvidos nas respostas de defesa de Solanum tuberosum L. contra Pectobacterium carotovorum

Abstract

Solanum tuberosum is one of the most important crops worldwide being the fourth most consumed food. Despite its importance, this crop presents a high susceptibility to a wide range of pathogens, leading to an extensive yield loss. A potential approach for disease control in potato is the understanding of the mechanisms of resistance induction and their relation to strengthening of natural plant defenses. In this work, the effect of defense inducers (XTH and Acibenzolar-S-methyl - Bion®) and ethylene blocker (aminoethoxyvinylglycine AVG) in the plant metabolism was assessed. Biochemical markers for plant defense, such as POX and PPO enzymes, synthesis of phenolic compounds, flavonoid fraction and salicylic acid accumulation were also evaluated. Bion® resulted in a negative effect upon P. carotovorum inoculated plants, whilst XTH delayed disease progression. Plants cultivated in the presence of Bion+AVG showed an increase in PPO activity comparing to the control plants, although its activity was similar between XTH and Bion® plants. POX activity was promoted by Bion® at 24 hpi, however, at 72 hpi plants showed higher POX activity within XTH+AVG and Bion+AVG treated plants, compared with non-treated plants. In general, plants presented free SA levels 65% higher than conjugated one. The highest concentrations of SA (52.2 μg/g) was found in Bion+AVG treated plants, whilst the lowest concentrations (4.8 μg/g) were found in XTH and AVG treated plants.