ACIBENZOLAR-S-METHYL INCREASES THE TRANSCRIPT LEVEL OF PAL AND CHS GENES IN OLIVE PLANTLETS

Plants are continuously exposed to pathogen attacks, but they defend themselves with various mechanisms including induced resistance which involves rapid changes in gene expression. Induction of resistance can also be induced in plants by several substances. Acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM), a functional...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of plant pathology 2009-12, Vol.91 (4), p.S4.61-S4.61
Main Authors: Ferrara, M, Pentimone, I, Ligorio, A, Sanzani, S M, Ippolito, A, Nigro, F
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Olea
Olea europaea
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Summary:Plants are continuously exposed to pathogen attacks, but they defend themselves with various mechanisms including induced resistance which involves rapid changes in gene expression. Induction of resistance can also be induced in plants by several substances. Acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM), a functional analogue of salicylic acid (SA), was found to behave as an effective resistance elicitor, thus facilitating protection under field conditions against a wide range of pathogens and in several crops. Phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) and chalcone synthase (CHS) are key enzymes in phenylpropanoid/flavonoid pathway, leading to production of compounds, including lignin, flavonoids and phytoalexins, extremely important in the plant defence strategy. A molecular method for monitoring PAL and CHS gene expression in the leaves of olive plantlets (cv. Leccino), in response to ASM application was developed. Specific primers, amplifying a 233 and 188 bp amplicons were designed to quantify the relative transcript level of PAL and CHS genes, respectively, by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR. Gene expression was normalised to the housekeeping registered -actin (act1) mRNA gene of Olea europaea. Plantlets exhibited a good tolerance toward the different amount (0.05 divided by 0.5 g/l a.i.) of ASM tested. Results indicate that ASM up-regulates the expression of the target genes. In particular, PAL and CHS expression were strongly induced by ASM (0.25 g/l a.i.) within 6 h from application, whereas peak expression of CHS was maintained for a longer time than PAL. Moreover, the time-course of PAL expression revealed a persistence of genes up-regulation till the fifth day after treatment, as compared to the control.
ISSN:1125-4653