Benzothiadiazole induces disease resistance in Arabidopsis by activation of the systemic acquired resistance signal transduction pathway.
Benzothiadiazole (BTH) is a novel chemical activator of disease resistance in tobacco, wheat and other important agricultural plants. In this report, it is shown that BTH works by activating SAR in Arabidopsis thaliana. BTH-treated plants were resistant to infection by turnip crinkle virus, Pseudomonas syringae pv 'tomato' DC3000 and Peronospora parasitica. Chemical treatment induced accumulation of mRNAs from the SAR-associated genes, PR-1, PR-2 and PR-5. BTH treatment induced both PR-1 mRNA accumulation and resistance against P. parasitica in the ethylene response mutants, etr1 and ein2, and in the methyl jasmonate-insensitive mutant, jar1, suggesting that BTH action is independent of these plant hormones. BTH treatment also induced both PR-1 mRNA accumulation and P. parasitica resistance in transgenic Arabidopsis plants expressing the nahG gene, suggesting that BTH action does not require salicylic acid accumulation. However, because BTH-treatment failed to induce either PR-1 mRNA accumulation or P. parasitica resistance in the non-inducible immunity mutant, nim1, it appears that BTH activates the SAR signal transduction pathway.
Lawton
K A
KA
Ciba-Geigy Agricultural Biotechnology, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2257, USA.
Friedrich
L
L
Hunt
M
M
Weymann
K
K
Delaney
T
T
Kessmann
H
H
Staub
T
T
Ryals
J
J
D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D017343:Genes, Plant / Q000187:drug effects; D007109:Immunity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D009154:Mutation; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018749:RNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012459:Salicylates / Q000378:metabolism; D020156:Salicylic Acid; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013830:Thiadiazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018749:RNA, Plant; D012459:Salicylates; D013830:Thiadiazoles; C015700:benzo-1,2,3-thiadiazole; D020156:Salicylic Acid