Pseudomonas fluorescens mediated systemic resistance in tomato is driven through an elevated synthesis of defense enzymes

Abstract

Pseudomonas fluorescens was used as a biological control agent against bacterial wilt disease caused by Ralstonia solanacearum. Activities of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), guaiacol peroxidase (POX), polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and lipoxygenase (LOX) increased in P. fluorescens pretreated tomato seedlings, which were later inoculated with R. solanacearum and activities of PAL, POX, PPO and LOX reached maximum at 12, 9, 15 and 9 h, respectively, after inoculation. Reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) confirmed the maximum induction of all these enzymes in P. fluorescens pretreated seedlings. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.