title: Effects of nitric oxide on sunflower seedlings: A balance between defense and development.
abstract: Nitric oxide (NO) is a major plant signaling molecule that plays key roles during plant-pathogen interactions and plant development. Previous work showed the participation of NO in the development and lignin composition of sunflower roots. Thereby, we have hypothesized that NO applications could control the attack of the fungal pathogen Verticillium dahliae in sunflowers. Seedlings growing hydroponically were pretreated with NO donors and further inoculated with the fungus. Evaluation of disease symptoms showed that NO pretreatments could not reduce Verticillium wilt. Strikingly, NO donors appear to promote the fungal infection. These results indicate that NO applications were unable to protect sunflowers from Verticillium attack and highlight the role played by the fine tuning regulation of NO levels required to balance plant responses between development and defense.
authors: a Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas; Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata - CONICET ; Mar del Plata , Argentina.
authors: Georgina
authors: G
authors: Corti Monzón
authors: a Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas; Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata - CONICET ; Mar del Plata , Argentina.
authors: Mariana
authors: M
authors: Regente
authors: a Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas; Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata - CONICET ; Mar del Plata , Argentina.
authors: Marcela
authors: M
authors: Pinedo
authors: a Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas; Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata - CONICET ; Mar del Plata , Argentina.
authors: Lorenzo
authors: L
authors: Lamattina
authors: a Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas; Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata - CONICET ; Mar del Plata , Argentina.
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: de la Canal
mesh_terms: D006368:Helianthus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D018527:Hydroponics; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors / Q000494:pharmacology; D063245:Plant Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D036226:Seedlings / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D020172:Verticillium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors; D009569:Nitric Oxide
keywords: Helianthus annuus; fungal control; lignin; nitric oxide