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Powdery mildew of Arabidopsis thaliana: a pathosystem for exploring the role of silicon in plant–microbe interactions
Silicon (Si) has been used in agriculture to protect plants against disease for hundreds of years and its prophylactic effects in monocots and dicots are well documented. The mechanisms by which Si exerts its protective effects in planta, however, are uncertain and presently the subject of debate. I...
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Published in: | Physiological and molecular plant pathology 2004-04, Vol.64 (4), p.189-199 |
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Main Authors: | , , , , |
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Subjects: | |
Citations: | Items that this one cites Items that cite this one |
Online Access: | Get full text |
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Summary: | Silicon (Si) has been used in agriculture to protect plants against disease for hundreds of years and its prophylactic effects in monocots and dicots are well documented. The mechanisms by which Si exerts its protective effects
in planta, however, are uncertain and presently the subject of debate. In this study, we sought to determine if
Arabidopsis thaliana could be used to clarify the role of Si in plant–pathogen interactions. Accordingly, X-ray microanalysis mapping, light microscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscope techniques were used to examine the leaves of Si− fed
A. thaliana plants inoculated with the powdery mildew fungus,
Erysiphe cichoracearum. The results of this study demonstrate for the first time, that
A. thaliana is a species that absorbs Si and that the incidence of powdery mildew disease for Si− fed plants is significantly lower compared to control plants. In particular, treatment with Si appeared to induce the production of an electron-dense, fungitoxic substance that accumulated within and around the collapsed fungal haustoria of infected epidermal cells within the leaves of disease-resistant plants. These results with
Arabidopsis corroborate recent observations in other non-related species and support the emerging theory that the mechanisms by which Si imparts resistance to plants are complex and are not entirely explained by the traditionally proposed role of Si as a reinforcer of mechanical resistance. Collectively, the findings of the present study have established the
Arabidopsis thaliana-
Erysiphe cichoracearum pathosystem as a valid model to investigate the role of Si in plant–microbe interactions. |
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ISSN: | 0885-5765 1096-1178 |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.pmpp.2004.07.005 |