Involvement of phenolic acids in disease resistance of potato tubers from CEPA-treated plants

Abstract

Treatment of vegetative parts of potato plants two weeks before the harvest with 0.2% 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid (CEPA) delayed the sprouting of tubers and increased the resistance of tubers to infections caused by Phytophthora infestans, Erwinia carotovora and Fusarium spp. during the storage period. Levels of free, soluble ester- and glycoside-bound phenolic acids and cell wall-bound phenolics were determined in cortical parenchyma of tubers (periderm). The enhancement of phenolic acids in tubers from treated plants was caused primarily by the increase in the contents of free vanillic, caffeic and p-hydroxybenzoic acids and cell wall-bound ferulic, vanillic and p-coumaric acids. © 1995 Institute of Experimental Botany, ASCR.