Β-aminobutyric Acid Research Articles

Pre-harvest and pulse treatments of spermine, γ- and β-aminobutyric acid increased antioxidant activities and extended the vase life of gerbera cut flowers ‘Stanza’

Abstract Capitulum wilting and neck bending are the two important complications that impair the post-harvest quality and vase life of the gerbera cut flowers. The present study investigates the effects of pre- and post-harvest treatments of spermine (SPER), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and β-aminobutyric acid (BABA) on the vase life, qualitative features and enzyme activity of gerbera cut flowers ‘Stanza’. The pre-harvest treatments (1 mM doses) were applied by foliar spraying, and the post-harvest were by pulse treatment (5 mM doses). The flowers kept their quality longer in pre and post SPER and GABA treatments. The longest vase life was recorded in pre-SPER (14 days) and pre-GABA (13 days) compared to BABA treatments and controls (9 days). Neck bending was observed more frequently in controls whereas SPER and GABA showed a lower neck bending rate at 9 days after harvest. The highest vase solution uptake, total soluble solids, total flavonoid, total protein, the activities of catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, and ascorbate peroxidase, besides the lowest neck bending, electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde, H2O2 and polyphenol oxidase activity were observed in pre-SPER treatment and subsequently in pre-GABA. Pre- and post-harvest treatments with β-Aminobutyric acid (BABA) had no significant effects on cut flowers compared to SPER and GABA, although showed slightly better effects than water control. It is therefore suggested that pre-harvest treatment using SPER and GABA can improve the vase life and quality of gerbera cut flowers.

Combination of β-Aminobutyric Acid and Ca2+ Alleviates Chilling Stress in Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.).

Chilling is a major abiotic factor limiting the growth, development, and productivity of plants. β-aminobutyric acid (BABA), a new environmentally friendly agent, is widely used to induce plant resistance to biotic and abiotic stress. Calcium, as a signaling substance, participates in various physiological activities in cells and plays a positive role in plant defense against cold conditions. In this study, we used tobacco as a model plant to determine whether BABA could alleviate chilling stress and further to explore the relationship between BABA and Ca2+. The results showed that 0.2 mM BABA significantly reduced the damage to tobacco seedlings from chilling stress, as evidenced by an increase in photosynthetic pigments, the maintenance of cell structure, and upregulated expression of NtLDC1, NtERD10B, and NtERD10D. Furthermore, 0.2 mM BABA combined with 10 mM Ca2+ increased the fresh and dry weights of both roots and shoots markedly. Compared to that with single BABA treatment, adding Ca2+ reduced cold injury to the plant cell membrane, decreased ROS production, and increased antioxidant enzyme activities and antioxidant contents. The combination of BABA and Ca2+ also improved abscisic acid and auxin contents in tobacco seedlings under chilling stress, whereas ethylene glycol-bis (β-aminoethylether)-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) reversed the effects of BABA. These findings suggested that BABA enhances the cold tolerance of tobacco and is closely related to the state of Ca2+ signaling.

Induced Tomato Resistance Against Bemisia tabaci Triggered by Salicylic Acid, β-Aminobutyric Acid, and Trichoderma.

Bemisia tabaci Gennadius (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) biotype B is a key pest of Solanum lycopersicum L. (Solanaceae) throughout the world. In this study, we examined the induction of resistance on tomato plants treated with SA, BABA, and Trichoderma either individually or in combination against B. tabaci biotype B through the assessment of some biological and behavioral aspects of this insect pest. Also, to understand the mode of action of these inducers, we correlated and analyzed the biochemical basis of plant resistance, by measuring levels of polyphenol oxidase (PPO), peroxidase (POD), phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), and phenolic content in leaves of treated tomato plants. The longest development time of whitefly immature stages was recorded for plants treated with root β-aminobutyric acid application (RBABA) + root Trichoderma application (RT), root salicylic acid application (RSA) + RT, and RT. In a free-choice assay, B. tabaci adults showed a significantly lower preference for settling and oviposition in RBABA + RT, RSA + RT, and RT in comparison with control. In a no-choice assay, B. tabaci females laid significantly fewer eggs on treatments than those in control, with better results observed in RBABA + RT. Plants responded to different treatments and showed higher induction of PPO, POD, and PAL activities, besides the higher accumulation of phenols in RBABA + RT, RSA + RT, and RT treatments. These results suggest that RBABA + RT, RSA + RT, and RT could be utilized for the induction of effective plant defense against B. tabaci.

Alleviation of drought stress in faba bean (Vicia faba L.) by exogenous application of β-aminobutyric acid (BABA).

Drought stress is one of the most prevalent environmental factors limiting faba bean (Vicia faba L.) crop productivity. β-aminobutyric acid (BABA) is a non-protein amino acid that may be involved in the regulation of plant adaptation to drought stress. The effect of exogenous BABA application on physiological, biochemical and molecular responses of faba bean plants grown under 18% PEG-induced drought stress were investigated. The results showed that the application of 1mM of BABA improved the drought tolerance of faba bean. The application of BABA increased the leaf relative water content, leaf photosynthesis rate (A), transpiration rate (E), and stomatal conductance (gs), thereby decreased the water use efficiency. Furthermore, exogenous application of BABA decreased production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), malondialdehyde and electrolyte leakage levels, leading to less cell membrane damage due to oxidative stress. Regarding osmoprotectants, BABA application enhanced the accumulation of proline, and soluble sugars, which could improve theosmotic adjustment ability of faba bean under drought challenge. Interestingly, mended antioxidant enzyme activities like catalase, guaiacol peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase and superoxide dismutase and their transcript levels may lead to counteract the damaging effects of oxidative stress and reducing the accumulation of harmful substances in BABA-treated faba bean plants. In addition, exogenous BABA significantly induced the accumulation of drought tolerance-related genes like VfMYB, VfDHN, VfLEA, VfERF, VfNCED, VfWRKY, VfHSP and VfNAC in leaves and roots, suggesting that BABA might act as a signal molecule to regulate the expression of drought tolerance-related genes.

The effect of Beta-amino Butyric Acid in Levels of Interleukin4 & Interleukin 10, Complement Proteins C3 & C4 and Immunoglobin IgM in Males Rats Sprague Dawley Infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa

B–amino butyric acid (BABA) non protein amino acid has effect on some immunological parameters of male rats Sprague Dawley species infected with pseudomonas aeruginosa. this study include 25 animal divided into five groups A, B, C, D and E each group contain five animals, A, B and C groups injected with three concentration of amino acid solution (25 mg\ml, 50 mg\ml and 75 mg\ml) with dose (0.2 g\ kg, 0.4g\kg and 0.6 g\kg) respectively, intra peritoneal weekly for six weeks, group D (first control group) and E (second control group) injected with normal saline. At the fifth week the four groups A, B, C and D exposed to pseudomonas aeruginosa, while group E did not exposed to infections after the termination of period of treatment, The blood samples were collected to do the immunological tests, the statistical analysis P<0.05 results showed BABA did not enhance sensitivity through measuring interleukin IL4, and significant increase of IL10 and complement protein C4, while BABA didn’t have a negative effect on the complement protein C3 activation and increase the level of immunoglobulin IgM.

Nitric Oxide Plays an Important Role in β-Aminobutyric Acid-Induced Resistance to Botrytis cinerea in Tomato Plants.

β-Aminobutyric acid (BABA) has consistently been reported to enhance plant immunity. However, the specific mechanisms and downstream components that mediate this resistance are not yet agreed upon. Nitric oxide (NO) is an important signal molecule involved in a diverse range of physiological processes, and whether NO is involved in BABA-induced resistance is interesting. In this study, treatment with BABA significantly increased NO accumulation and reduced the sensitivity to Botrytis cinerea in tomato plants. BABA treatment reduced physical signs of infection and increased both the transcription of key defense marker genes and the activity of defensive enzymes. Interestingly, compared to treatment with BABA alone, treatment with BABA plus cPTIO (NO specific scavenger) not only significantly reduced NO accumulation, but also increased disease incidence and lesion area. These results suggest that NO accumulation plays an important role in BABA-induced resistance against B. cinerea in tomato plants.

Standard Enthalpies of Formation of β-Aminobutyric Acid and Products of Its Dissociation in Aqueous Solution

Standard Enthalpies of Formation of β-Aminobutyric Acid and Products of Its Dissociation in Aqueous Solution

γ‐Aminobutyric acid and related amino acids in plant immune responses: Emerging mechanisms of action

The entanglement between primary metabolism regulation and stress responses is a puzzling and fascinating theme in plant sciences. Among the major metabolites found in plants, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) fulfils important roles in connecting C and N metabolic fluxes through the GABA shunt. Activation of GABA metabolism is known since long to occur in plant tissues following biotic stresses, where GABA appears to have substantially different modes of action towards different categories of pathogens and pests. While it can harm insects thanks to its inhibitory effect on the neuronal transmission, its capacity to modulate the hypersensitive response in attacked host cells was proven to be crucial for host defences in several pathosystems. In this review, we discuss how plants can employ GABA's versatility to effectively deal with all the major biotic stressors, and how GABA can shape plant immune responses against pathogens by modulating reactive oxygen species balance in invaded plant tissues. Finally, we discuss the connections between GABA and other stress-related amino acids such as BABA (β-aminobutyric acid), glutamate and proline.

β-Aminobutyric Acid Pretreatment Confers Salt Stress Tolerance in Brassica napus L. by Modulating Reactive Oxygen Species Metabolism and Methylglyoxal Detoxification.

Salinity is a serious environmental hazard which limits world agricultural production by adversely affecting plant physiology and biochemistry. Hence, increased tolerance against salt stress is very important. In this study, we explored the function of β-aminobutyric acid (BABA) in enhancing salt stress tolerance in rapeseed (Brassica napus L.). After pretreatment with BABA, seedlings were exposed to NaCl (100 and 150 mM) for 2 days. Salt stress increased Na content and decreased K content in shoot and root. It disrupted the antioxidant defense system by producing reactive oxygen species (ROS; H2O2 and O2•−), methylglyoxal (MG) content and causing oxidative stress. It also reduced the growth and photosynthetic pigments of seedlings but increased proline (Pro) content. However, BABA pretreatment in salt-stressed seedlings increased ascorbate (AsA) and glutathione (GSH) contents; GSH/GSSG ratio; and the activities of ascorbate peroxidase (APX), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glyoxalase I (Gly I), and glyoxalase II (Gly II) as well as the growth and photosynthetic pigments of plants. In addition, compared to salt stress alone, BABA increased Pro content, reduced the H2O2, MDA and MG contents, and decreased Na content in root and increased K content in shoot and root of rapeseed seedlings. Our findings suggest that BABA plays a double role in rapeseed seedlings by reducing Na uptake and enhancing stress tolerance through upregulating the antioxidant defense and glyoxalase systems.

Acibenzolar-S-methyl and β-amino butyric acid-induced upregulation of biochemical defense against Colletotrichum capsici infection in chilli (Capsicum annuum)

Abiotic inducers (AI) are synthetic/natural compound, induces systemic resistance in plants against pathogens. Present study aimed to evaluate the foliar application of AI [Acibenzolar-S-Methyl (ASM), and β-Amino Butyric Acid (BABA)] in managing chilli anthracnose under greenhouse conditions. Foliar applications of ASM-5 μg/ml and BABA-10 mM significantly decreases disease incidence to 13.15% and 14.1% respectively, when compared to respective controls (65% and 65.34%). AI treated seedlings recorded maximum H2O2 accumulation at 9 h (ASM) and 12 h (BABA) after challenged with pathogen. In AI treated seedlings, activity of defense-related enzymes (Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, Peroxidase, Polyphenol oxidase, Lipoxygenase, and chitinase) was upregulated after challenge inoculation. Similarly, maximum phenolic (μg gallic acid/g tissue) accumulation of 147 and 71.2 was recorded with ASM and BABA treatment, respectively. The AI induced changes in biochemical parameters are in correlation with reduced disease incidence. Hence, AI can use as alternative, safe and eco-friendly candidate to manage chilli anthracnose.

Thermochemical Study of the Reactions of Acid–Base Interaction in an Aqueous Solution of β-Aminobutyric Acid

Thermochemical Study of the Reactions of Acid–Base Interaction in an Aqueous Solution of β-Aminobutyric Acid

Exogenous β-aminobutyric acid application attenuates Aspergillus decay, minimizes aflatoxin B1 accumulation, and maintains nutritional quality in fresh-in-hull pistachio kernels.

Pistachio fruits suffer from postharvest decay, caused by Aspergillus flavus. This results in aflatoxin B1 (AFB1 ) accumulation in kernels, which is hazardous for human health due to its carcinogenic activity. In this study, the mechanism used by exogenous β-aminobutyric acid (BABA) treatment for attenuating Aspergillus decay, minimizing aflatoxin B1 (AFB1 ) accumulation, and maintaining nutritional quality in fresh-in-hull pistachio kernels, infected by A. flavus during storage at 25 °C for 18 days, was investigated. Results of an in vivo assay showed that the spore germination and germ tube elongation of A. flavus was repressed by BABA treatment at 7.5 mM. Aspergillus decay accompanied by AFB1 accumulation was also minimized in fresh-in-hull pistachio kernels treated with BABA at 7.5 mM and infected by A. flavus. Fresh-in-hull pistachio kernels, infected by A. flavus, treated with BABA at 7.5 mM, also exhibited higher phenol and flavonoid accumulation and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging capacity accompanied by higher phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) enzyme activity. Promoting phenylpropanoid pathway activity with higher PAL enzyme activity in fresh-in-hull pistachio kernels treated with BABA may not only reduce Aspergillus decay in kernels by cell wall fortification but also may be favorable for maintaining the kernels' nutritional quality through its effects on ROS scavenging capacity. As oxidative stress, represented by ROS accumulation, is responsible for A. flavus growth and AFB1 accumulation, higher phenol and flavonoid accumulation in fresh-in-hull pistachio kernels treated with BABA may be beneficial for attenuating Aspergillus decay and minimizing AFB1 accumulation. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effect of resistance inducers on biochemical characteristics of apple against <em>Dematophora necatrix</em> causing white root rot of apple

White root rot caused by Dematophora necatrix Hartig is one of the most devastating soil borne diseases attacking apple plants worldwide. In the present investigation, a pot experiment was conducted during 2016 at Model research Farm of Dr. YS Parmar university of Horticulture and Forestry Solan (H.P.) to evaluate the effect of induced resistance (IR) chemicals viz., salicylic acid, benzothiadiazole-s-methyl ester, potassium oxalate, β-amino butyric acid, calcium carbonate, sodium salicylate and di-potassium hydrogen orthophosphate against white root rot pathogen. These inducers were assayed at 0, 7, 14 and 21 days of pathogen inoculation. The results revealed that the salicylic acid treated apple seedlings developed highest amount of total phenol (493.13μg/g) which was followed by benzothiadiazole-s-methyl ester (451.80μg/g) and β-aminobutyric acid (422.60μg/g) respectively. While the lowest amount of total phenol was recorded in calcium carbonate (296.27μg/g). However, the maximum increase in polyphenol activity in terms of change in absorbance min-1 g-1 fresh weight of leaf (0.601) was recorded in salicylic acid treated apple seedlings followed by benzothiadiazole-s-methyl ester (0.551) and β-aminobutyric acid (0.505). The study likewise in polyphenol oxidase also revealed the effectiveness of salicylic acid in enhancing the peroxidase activity being highest in salicylic acid (0.703) followed by benzothiadiazole-s-methyl ester (0.643) and β-aminobutyric acid (0.609) respectively. However, the least activity was registered in calcium carbonate (0.366). In similar trends, highest PAL activity in terms of change in absorbance min-1 g-1 fresh weight of leaf was registered in salicylic acid treated seedlings (0.942) followed by benzothiadiazole-s-methyl ester (0.880) and β-aminobutyric acid (0.820). While least PAL activity was observed in treatment with (0.450). The salicylic acid estimation was also conducted and was found higher in benzothiadiazole-s-methyl ester (57.07μg/g) followed by β-aminobutyric acid (51.87 μg/g) respectively. Interestingly, it was found that irrespective of sampling intervals, maximum content of above tested biochemical parameters was noticed at 7th days followed by 14th days of pathogen inoculation. Our findings suggest that enhancing resistance in apple seedlings before infection could be an innovative, safe and alternative control method against white root rot of apple.

Management of Late Blight and Sucking Insect Pests of Potato with Application of Salicylic Acid and β-aminobutyric Acid under Greenhouse Conditions

Management of Late Blight and Sucking Insect Pests of Potato with Application of Salicylic Acid and β-aminobutyric Acid under Greenhouse Conditions

Circulating amino acid signature in older people with Parkinson's disease: A metabolic complement to the EXosomes in PArkiNson Disease (EXPAND) study.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder in old age. Neurotoxicity of dopaminergic neurons triggered by aggregation of misfolded α-synuclein is a major pathogenic trait of PD. However, growing evidence indicates that peripheral processes, including metabolic changes, may precede and contribute to neurodegeneration. The present study was undertaken to identify a metabolic signature of PD through the quantification of serum amino acids and derivatives. Twenty older adults with PD (11 men and 9 women; mean age 73.1 ± 10.2 years) and 30 age-matched controls (14 men and 16 women; mean age 74.6 ± 4.3 years) were enrolled. A panel of 37 serum amino acids and derivatives was assessed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Partial least squares - discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) followed by double cross-validation was used to characterize the relationship between amino acid profiles and PD. The optimal complexity of the PLS-DA model was found to be three latent variables. The proportion of correct classifications was 99.3 ± 2.5% for participants with PD and 94.7 ± 3.0% for non-PD controls. Higher levels of β-amino butyric acid, cystine, ornithine, phosphoethanolamine, and proline defined the circulating amino acid profile of older people with PD. Controls were characterized by higher concentrations of 3-methyl-histidine, citrulline, and serine. Our findings indicate the existence of a distinct metabotype in older persons with PD. Future studies will have to establish whether changes in amino acid metabolism are involved in the pathogenesis of PD. This knowledge may be harnessed to identify novel disease biomarkers as well as new targets for interventions.

PpHOS1, a RING E3 ubiquitin ligase, interacts with PpWRKY22 in the BABA-induced priming defense of peach fruit against Rhizopus stolonifer

The priming resistance induced by β-aminobutyric acid (BABA) is a cost-effective strategy to protect postharvest fruit from pathogen infection. The cross-linking underlying E3 ubiquitin ligases, WRKY transcription factors (TFs) and priming defense in peaches, however, remains poorly researched. In the present study, 50 mmol L−1 BABA could induce disease resistance at least by priming peach fruit for an accumulation in H2O2 content following subsequent Rhizopus stolonifer incubation, accompanied by a suppression of the disease incidence and lesion diameter during the incubation at 20 °C. Meanwhile, a WRKY TF (PpWRKY22) and an E3 ubiquitin ligase (PpHOS1) were identified specifically based on analysis and summarization of the differentially expressed genes and proteins in the transcriptome and proteome database of peaches, respectively. Moreover, the putative characterization of PpWRKY22, a Group IIe WRKY TF, and PpHOS1, a RING-type E3 ubiquitin ligase, was expounded. The expression of PpWRKY22 and PpHOS1 was up-regulated in the priming resistance of peach fruit against R. stolonifer, and the two nucleus-localized proteins physically interacted in vivo. Taken together, these findings bring new insights into the functional link between E3 ubiquitin ligases and WRKY TFs in priming resistance, and they enable new perspectives on enhancing the disease resistance of peaches.

Selection of miRNA reference genes for plant defence studies in rice (Oryza sativa).

MicroRNAs miR390-5p, miR7694-3p miR1868 and miR1849 were found to be suitable miRNA reference genes for rice, under either infection with the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne graminicola or treatment with BABA. RT-qPCR is a widely used method to investigate the expression levels of genes under certain conditions. A key step, however, to have reliable results is the normalization of expression. For every experimental condition, suitable reference genes must be chosen. These reference genes must not be affected by differences in experimental conditions. MicroRNAs are regulatory RNA molecules, able to direct the expression levels of protein coding genes. In plants, their attributed functions range from roles in development to immunity. In this work, microRNAs (miRNAs) are evaluated for their suitability as reference genes in rice after infection with root-knot nematode Meloidogyne graminicola or after priming with beta-amino butyric acid. The evaluation was based on their amplification efficiency and their stability estimates according to geNorm, NormFinder and BestKeeper. All tested miRNAs, excluding one, were considered acceptable for normalization. Furthermore, miRNAs were validated using miRNA sequencing data. The set of microRNAs miR390-5p and miR7694-3p was found to be the most stablecombination under the tested conditions. Another miRNA set consisting of miR7694-3p, miR1868 and miR1849 also shows potential to be used for miRNA expression normalization under experimental conditions beyond the scope of this study. This work is the first report on reference miRNAs in rice for the purpose of plant defence studies.

β-Aminobutyric Acid Priming Acquisition and Defense Response of Mango Fruit to Colletotrichum gloeosporioides Infection Based on Quantitative Proteomics.

β-aminobutyric acid (BABA) is a new environmentally friendly agent to induce disease resistance by priming of defense in plants. However, molecular mechanisms underlying BABA-induced priming defense are not fully understood. Here, comprehensive analysis of priming mechanism of BABA-induced resistance was investigated based on mango-Colletotrichum gloeosporioides interaction system using iTRAQ-based proteome approach. Results showed that BABA treatments effectively inhibited the expansion of anthracnose caused by C. gleosporioides in mango fruit. Proteomic results revealed that stronger response to pathogen in BABA-primed mango fruit after C. gleosporioides inoculation might be attributed to differentially accumulated proteins involved in secondary metabolism, defense signaling and response, transcriptional regulation, protein post-translational modification, etc. Additionally, we testified the involvement of non-specific lipid-transfer protein (nsLTP) in the priming acquisition at early priming stage and memory in BABA-primed mango fruit. Meanwhile, spring effect was found in the primed mango fruit, indicated by inhibition of defense-related proteins at priming phase but stronger activation of defense response when exposure to pathogen compared with non-primed fruit. As an energy-saving strategy, BABA-induced priming might also alter sugar metabolism to provide more backbone for secondary metabolites biosynthesis. In sum, this study provided new clues to elucidate the mechanism of BABA-induced priming defense in harvested fruit.

BABA application improves soybean resistance to aphid through activation of phenylpropanoid metabolism and callose deposition.

Beta-aminobutyric acid (BABA) confer plant resistance to a broad spectrum of biotic and abiotic stresses. The soybean aphid (SBA), is native to eastern Asia and is a predominant insect pest of soybean. Both isoflavone and lignin pathway are important branches of the general phenylpropanoid pathway, which would be likely associated with resistance against soybean aphid. However, little is known about the role of the phenylpropanoid pathway in defense response to SBA as induced by BABA application. The application of BABA effectively enhanced soybean resistance against Aphis glycines, the soybean aphid. Consistent with significantly increased content of isoflavones, especially genistein, the related biosynthetic genes were upregulated by use of BABA. Lignin, another important defense component against arthropods, accumulated at a high level and four lignin biosynthesis related genes were also activated. Additionally, BABA application augmented the expression of callose synthase genes and increased callose deposition in SBA-infested seedlings. In non-caged and caged tests, SBA numbers were significantly reduced in BABA-treated seedlings. These results demonstrate that application of BABA has an obvious positive effect on soybean resistance to aphids, and this defense response partly depends on the potentiation of isoflavone biosynthesis and callose deposition. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Postharvest dipping treatment with BABA induced resistance against rot caused by Gilbertella persicaria in red pitaya fruit

β-Aminobutyric acid (BABA) is an elicitor that is capable of inducing disease resistance in many plants. The effect of postharvest BABA treatment on rot caused by Gilbertella persicaria and the underlying mechanisms of action of BABA in pitaya fruit (Hylocereus undatus cv. Zihonglong) were investigated. Fruits were dipped in 10 mM BABA for 15 min and then stored at ambient temperature (25 ± 2 °C, RH 70˜75%). The results showed that 10 mM BABA had no obvious inhibitory effects on G. persicaria in vitro. However, BABA significantly reduced lesion diameter in pitaya inoculated with G. persicaria relative to the control. Furthermore, BABA increased the activities of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), 4-coumarate/coenzyme A ligase (4CL), peroxidase (POD) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and promoted the accumulation of lignin, flavonoids and phenolic compounds in the fruit. These results suggested that postharvest application of BABA via immersion induced resistance in pitaya fruit by activating defense-related enzymes, and BABA treatment may be an alternative method for the control of postharvest diseases in fruits.