Systemic acquired resistance induced by Agrobacterium tumefaciens in peach and differential expression of PR1 genes

Abstract

Crown gall disease caused by Agrobacterium tumefaciens affects a wide range of horticultural plants, and has no effective treatment. During the evaluation of crown gall resistance of peach germplasm resources, we observed enhanced resistance to subsequent invasion that was activated by virulence of A. tumefaciens in two peach cultivars. To further verify the phenotype observed in field experiments, systemic acquired resistance (SAR)-related salicylic acid (SA) and PR1 genes were investigated. The levels of SA were elevated in two cultivars, and these high levels were maintained for 35 days postinoculation. Compared with mock-inoculated controls, eight of the 22 candidate PpPR1 genes in A. tumefaciens-inoculated samples were significantly upregulated and three were downregulated in response to inoculation with A. tumefaciens. These data suggested that SA-induced SAR was activated in two peach cultivars by virulent A. tumefaciens infection. In addition, the eight induced PpPR1 genes can be used as molecular markers in defense studies in peach.