Salicylic acid is required for Mi-1-mediated resistance of tomato to whitefly Bemisia tabaci, but not for basal defense to this insect pest.

Plant defense to pests or pathogens involves global changes in gene expression mediated by multiple signaling pathways. A role for the salicylic acid (SA) signaling pathway in Mi-1-mediated resistance of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) to aphids was previously identified and its implication in the resistance to root-knot nematodes is controversial, but the importance of SA in basal and Mi-1-mediated resistance of tomato to whitefly Bemisia tabaci had not been determined. SA levels were measured before and after B. tabaci infestation in susceptible and resistant Mi-1-containing tomatoes, and in plants with the NahG bacterial transgene. Tomato plants of the same genotypes were also screened with B. tabaci (MEAM1 and MED species, before known as B and Q biotypes, respectively). The SA content in all tomato genotypes transiently increased after infestation with B. tabaci albeit at variable levels. Whitefly fecundity or infestation rates on susceptible Moneymaker were not significantly affected by the expression of NahG gene, but the Mi-1-mediated resistance to B. tabaci was lost in VFN NahG plants. Results indicated that whiteflies induce both SA and jasmonic acid accumulation in tomato. However, SA has no role in basal defense of tomato against B. tabaci. In contrast, SA is an important component of the Mi-1-mediated resistance to B. tabaci in tomato.

Effect of cadmium and calcium treatments on phytochelatin and glutathione levels in citrus plants.

Industry residues, phosphate fertilisers and wastewater as a source of irrigation have considerably increased levels of heavy metals in the soil, mainly cadmium (Cd(2+)). To test the effects of a calcium (Ca(2+)) treatment on Cd(2+) accumulation and plant tolerance to this heavy metal, plants of two citrus genotypes, Cleopatra mandarin (CM) and Carrizo citrange (CC), were watered with increasing concentrations of Cd(2+), and phytochelatin (PC) and glutathione (GSH) content were measured. Both genotypes were able to synthesise PCs in response to heavy metal intoxication, although CM seems to be a better Cd(2+) excluder than CC. However, data indicate that CC plants had a higher capacity for regenerating GSH than CM plants. In this context, the effects of Ca(2+) treatment on Cd(2+) accumulation, plant survival and PC, GSH and oxidised glutathione (GSSG) content were assessed. Data indicate that treatment with Ca(2+) had two positive effects on citrus physiology: it reduced Cd(+2) uptake into roots and also increased GSH content (even in the absence of Cd(2+)). Overall, the data indicate that although Cd(2+) exclusion is a powerful mechanism to avoid heavy metal build-up into photosynthetic organs, the capacity to maintain optimum GSH levels to feed PC biosynthesis could also be an important factor in stress tolerance.