Different Mechanisms of Induced Systemic Resistance and Systemic Acquired Resistance Against Colletotrichum orbiculare on the Leaves of Cucumber Plants

Defense mechanisms against anthracnose disease caused by Colletotrichum orbiculare on the leaf surface of cucumber plants after pre-treatment with plant growth promoting rhizobacteria(PGPR), amino salicylic acid(ASA) or C. orbiculare were compared using a fluorescence microscope. Induced systemic resistance was mediated by the pre-inoculation in the root system with PGPR strain Bacillus amylolquefaciens EXTN-1 that showed direct antifungal activity to C. gloeosporioides and C. orbiculare. Also, systemic acquired resistance was triggered by the pre-treatments on the bottom leaves with amino salicylic acid or conidial suspension of C. orbiculare. The protection values on the leaves expressing SAR were higher compared to those expressing ISR. After pre-inoculation with PGPR strains no change of the plants was found in phenotype, while necrosis or hypersensitive reaction(HR) was observed on the leaves of plants pre-treated with ASA or the pathogen. After challenge inoculation, inhibition of fungal growth was observed on the leaves expressing both ISR and SAR. HR was frequently observed at the penetration sites of both resistance-expressing leaves. Appressorium formation was dramatically reduced on the leaves of plants pre-treated with ASA, whereas EXTN-1 did not suppress the appressorium formation. ASA also more strongly inhibited the conidial germination than EXTN-1. Conversely, EXTN-1 significantly increased the frequency of callose formation at the penetration sites, but ASA did not. The defense mechanisms induced by C. orbiculare were similar to those by ASA. Based on these results it is suggested that resistance mechanisms on the leaf surface was different between on the cucumber leaves expressing ISR and SAR, resulting in the different protection values.

Systemic Resistance and Expression of the Pathogenesis-Related Genes Mediated by the Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacterium Bacillus amyloliquefaciens EXTN-1 Against Anthracnose Disease in Cucumber

Plants have the ability to acquire an enhanced level of resistance to pathogen attack after being exposed to specific biotic stimuli. To obtain plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria inducing resistance against cucumber anthracnose by Colletotrichum orbiculare, more than 800 strains of rhizobacteria were screened in the greenhouse. Among these strains, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens solate EXTN-1 showed significant disease control efficacy on the plants. Induction of pathogenesis-related(PR-la) gene expression by EXTN-1 was assessed using tobacco plants transformed with PR-1a::beta-glucuronidase (GUS) construct. GUS activities of tobacco treated with EXTN-1 and salicylic acid-treated transgenic tobacco were significantly higher than those of tobacco plants with other treatments. Gene expression analyses indicated that EXTN-1 induces the accumulation of defense-related genes of tobacco. The results showed that some defense genes are expressed by the treatment with EXTN-1 suggesting the similar resistance mechanism by salicylic acid.

Occurrence of Anthracnose on Cabbage Caused by Colletotrichum dematium

Anthracnose symptoms on young cabbages were found in cabbage nursery fields in Jangheung area of Korea in 1998. The symptoms developed on seedlings, leaves, and stems of young cabbages(Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.). The casual fungus was identified as Calletotrichum dernatium (Fr.) Grove based on morphological and cultural characteristics. Similar symptoms were observed on the cabbage when artificially inoculated on the plant leaves. The fungus was reisolated from the symptoms of the inoculated plant.