Abstract

Inducing resistance in plants by the application of elicitors of defense reactions is an attractive plant protection strategy, particularly for grapevine (Vitis vinifera), which is susceptible to severe fungal diseases. Although induced resistance (IR) can be successful under controlled conditions, in most cases, IR is not sufficiently effective for practical disease control under outdoor conditions. Progress in the application of IR requires a better understanding of grapevine defense mechanisms and the ability to monitor defense markers to identify factors, such as physiological and environmental factors, that can impact IR in the vineyard. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are well-known plant defense compounds that have received little or no attention to date in the case of grape-pathogen interactions. This prompted us to investigate whether an elicitor, the sulfated laminarin (PS3), actually induces the production of VOCs in grapevine. An online analysis (proton-transfer-reaction quadrupole mass spectrometry) of VOC emissions in dynamic cuvettes and passive sampling in gas-tight bags with solid-phase microextraction-GC-MS under greenhouse conditions showed that PS3 elicited the emission of VOCs. Some of them, such as (E,E)-α-farnesene, may be good candidates as biomarkers of elicitor-IR, whereas methyl salicylate appears to be a biomarker of downy mildew infection. A negative correlation between VOC emission and disease severity suggests a positive role of VOCs in grape defense against diseases.

Highlights

  • Grapevine (Vitis vinifera sp.) is susceptible to severe fungal diseases, such as downy mildew caused by the oomycete Plasmopara viticola

  • Oligosaccharides derived from cell walls of algae or microorganisms are well-known elicitors referred to as microbial-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) that are recognized by cognate plant receptors (Jones and Dangl, 2006)

  • The monitoring revealed an initial rapid induction of methyl salicylate (MeSA), which peaked during the light phase 20 h post-treatment, in all of the treatments containing surfactant (Figure 2A)

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Summary

Introduction

Grapevine (Vitis vinifera sp.) is susceptible to severe fungal diseases, such as downy mildew caused by the oomycete Plasmopara viticola. Controlling this disease requires many fungicide applications; induced resistance (IR) by means of elicitors represents an attractive strategy for reducing fungicide use. A natural linear β-1,3 glucan oligosaccharide (degree of polymerization approximately equal to 25) extracted from the brown algae Laminaria digitata, elicits defense, and induces resistance in different plant species (Klarzynski et al, 2000; Aziz et al, 2003). PS3 elicits the expression of defense genes, callose deposition, phytoalexin (resveratrol and derivatives) production, and IR against P. viticola (Trouvelot et al, 2008)

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