Salicylic acid increases the defense reaction against bunt and smut pathogens in wheat calli

Abstract

The role of salicylic acid (SA) in regulating wheat calli growth and peroxidase activity in the co-culture with bunt (Tilletia caries (D.C.) Tul.) and smut (Ustilago tritici Pers.) pathogens was studied in this work. We found that the influence of SA increased the number of globular high-density sites with meristema-like cells and reduced the number of low-structured sites with parenchyma-like cells in wheat calli. SA inhibited fungi spores germination, mycelium growth, and formation of its new spores during the co-cultivation of wheat calli with bunt or smut agent. Interaction of fungi mycelium with wheat calli treated by SA led to formation of zones with hypersensitive reaction in calli high-structured sites with meristema-like cells. The obtained data about the influence of SA on activation of wheat calli growth and the peroxidases with pI ~3.5 and ~9.8, which can bind to the mycelium of T. caries or U. tritici are discussed in this paper.

Keywords:

• bunt and smut pathogens
• wheat calli
• co-culture
• H₂O₂ production
• peroxidase
• salicylic acid

Acknowledgment

The study was supported by the grant of the Russian Federation Ministry of Education and Science P-339.