Induction of antimicrobial 3-deoxyflavonoids in pome fruit trees controls fire blight.
Fire blight, a devastating bacterial disease in pome fruits, causes severe economic losses worldwide. Hitherto, an effective control could only be achieved by using antibiotics, but this implies potential risks for human health, livestock and environment. A new approach allows transient inhibition of a step in the flavonoid pathway, thereby inducing the formation of a novel antimicrobial 3-deoxyflavonoid controlling fire blight in apple and pear leaves. This compound is closely related to natural phytoalexins in sorghum. The approach does not only provide a safe method to control fire blight: Resistance against different pathogens is also induced in other crop plants.
Halbwirth
Heidrun
H
Institute of Technical BioScience, Technical University of Vienna, Getreidemarkt 9/173, A-1060 Wien, Austria.
Fischer
Thilo C
TC
Roemmelt
Susanne
S
Spinelli
Francesco
F
Schlangen
Karin
K
Peterek
Silke
S
Sabatini
Emidio
E
Messina
Christian
C
Speakman
John-Bryan
JB
Andreotti
Carlo
C
Rademacher
Wilhelm
W
Bazzi
Carlo
C
Costa
Guglielmo
G
Treutter
Dieter
D
Forkmann
Gert
G
Stich
Karl
K
D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014197:Trees
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005419:Flavonoids; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators