Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 14
Short and Long Term Effects of Salicylic
Acid on Protection to Phytoplasma
Associated Stress in Potato Plants
H. A. López-Delgado, M. E. Mora-Herrera, R. Martínez-Gutiérrez
and S. Sánchez-Rojo
Abstract Salicylic acid (SA) activated the plant defense response in potato
against phytoplasma attack, reduced infection symptoms, favored photosynthates
translocation and improved the quality of tubers. SA induced effects at short and
long terms and it was equally efficient when it was first applied on in vitro culture
followed of transplanting or directly sprayed on greenhouse conditions. Low levels
of exogenous SA (0.1 and 0.001 mM) showed higher biological activity. The
reduction of damage was associated to high hydrogen peroxide and ascorbic acid
contents, together with reduction of peroxidase activity suggesting an important
role of SA on the regulation of these molecules and counteracting the pathogens
effects.
Keywords Salicylic acid
Phytoplasma
Long term effects
Potato resistance
Biotic stress
1 Introduction
Phytoplasmas are bacteria in the class Mollicutes lacking cell walls that inhabit
plant phloem sieve tubes (Liefting et al.
2004
). They are responsible for several
hundred plants diseases worldwide, affecting many economically important plants
such as vineyard plants, tomatoes, and potatoes (Doi et al.
1967
). Infected plants
show a wide range of symptoms, such as 'witches' broom proliferation, flower
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