Induction of resistance against the leafminer, Liriomyza trifolii, by jasmonic acid in sweet pepper

Abstract

Sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum) leaves at the mature stage have strong ovipositional deterrence against Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess) (Diptera, Agromyzidae), whereas the cotyledons are fiercely attacked by the fly. Treatment of the cotyledons with 50 μM and 100 μM of a jasmonic acid (JA) solution caused the plant to acquire strong oviposition deterrence against the leaf-miner. An HPLC analysis of the JA-treated cotyledons revealed the inducible accumulation of a compound. Based on spectroscopic analysis and chemical methods, the induced compound was identified to be caffeoylputrescine (CP). The accumulated amounts of CP in the cotyledons treated with 0, 10, 50 and 100 μM of JA were 6.0, 43.0, 105 and 140 μg/g fr. wt., respectively. Treatment of the cotyledons with CP resulted in a significant decrease in the number of punctures made by L. trifolii, indicating that the JA treatment enhanced the deterrence against the leafminer by inducing CP accumulation.