Reinforcement of cell wall in roots of Lycopersicon esculentum through induction of phenolic compounds and lignin by elicitors

Abstract

Changes in phenolic metabolism and lignin deposition have been studied in roots of tomato plants after elicitation with four elicitors which are Fusarium mycelium extract (FME), chitosan (CHT), Fusarium culture filtrate (FCF) and Trichoderma mycelium extract (TME). Most profound effect of elicitors was observed on ferulic acid among the phenolic compounds. After 24 h elicitation, the increase in ferulic acid content of root cell wall was 3.71 and 3.30 times by FME and CHT, respectively. The increase of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid was 2.71 and 2.16 times by these two elicitors. The level of 4-coumaric acid was little more than double by these two elicitors after 24 h elicitation. Most pronounced increase in lignin synthesis was also effected by FME followed by CHT. Lignin deposition in the root cell wall was increased 3.6, 5.4 and 7.1 times by FME during 12, 24 and 36 h after elicitation, respectively. Similarly, CHT increased lignin deposition by 2.8, 5.1 and 6.8 times at 12, 24 and 36 h after elicitation, respectively. FCF and TME also increased lignin deposition significantly in the cell walls of tomato roots during the above time periods of elicitation. Activity of phenylalanine ammonia lyase reached highest level at 24 h post elicitation under the influence of the elicitors. Peroxidase activity registered a sharp increase at 24 h post elicitation. Markedly increased level of polyphenol oxidase activity was found at 12 h post elicitation. Cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase activity was observed to reach highest level at 48 h post elicitation. Cell wall strengthening, through the deposition of lignin, preceded by the induction of the synthesizing enzymes appears to play an important role in the defense response of Lycopersicon esculentum in reaction to elicitors, including one derived from Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici, the causal organism of Fusarium wilt of tomato.