Abstract
Induction of chitinases in Chinese cabbage ( Brassica campestris L. ssp. pekinensis var. Granaat) plants treated with L-form bacteria of Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola during seed germination, was investigated using a fluorometric assay with 4-methylumbelliferyl substrates. The constitutive chitinase activities of seeds and seedlings were low and contrasted with much higher chitinase activities in seedlings treated with L-form bacteria. Maximum chitinase activities of seedlings treated with L-form bacteria was found 31 days after treatment. Extracts of the seedlings treated with L-form bacteria showed 4-fold and 1.5-fold endochitinase activities with, 4-methylumbelliferyl β- d- N-triacetylchitotrioside and 4-methylumbelliferyl β- d- N-tetraacetylchitotetraoside, respectively. Plant/L-form association was detected using a slide agglutination assay, enzyme linked immuno-sorbent assay and by re-isolation of bacteria from seedlings. L-form bacteria were also observed in root hairs using light microscopy. Re-isolation showed that L-forms were systemically distributed throughout the plant, with the highest population in roots. This was supported by ELISA results. Chinese cabbage seedlings treated with L-form bacteria had enhanced resistance to infection by the grey mould pathogen Botrytis cinerea.
Published Version
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