ABSTRACT
Ethylene/oxygen (E/O(2)) elevates sesquiterpenoid stress metabolite (SSM) levels in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tuber tissue which is reacting hypersensitively. To determine whether E/O(2) retards SSM turnover, a measured amount of rishitin was applied to tuber tissue which was then incubated in air or E/O(2), and rishitin disappearance was monitored. No difference in the rate of rishitin disappearance was detected between air and E/O(2) incubations. However, tissue treated with rishitin and incubated in E/O(2) accumulated intermediates of the katahdinone and phytuberin pathways. This was not the case in rishitin-air treatments. These results suggest the dual involvement of ethylene and SSM intermediates in the regulation of the biosynthesis of SSM, compounds which may serve as phytoalexins.
ABSTRACT
Levels of katahdinone (solavetivone), lubimin, rishitin, and phytuberin, sesquiterpenoid stress metabolites of white potato (Solanum tuberosum), were monitored in tuber slices which were challenged with an extract of Phytophthora infestans and incubated under controlled atmospheres. A mixture of ethylene in air enhanced stress metabolite production. This enhancement was amplified by higher partial pressures of oxygen. Stress metabolite production was inhibited by salicylhydroxamic acid. These results suggest the involvement of cyanide-resistant respiration in the production of potato stress metabolites, compounds which may serve as phytoalexins.
