Plant Defence Activators Inducing Systemic Resistance in <i>Zingiber officinale </i>Rose. against <i>Pythium aphanidermatum </i>(Edson) Fitz.

Abstract

Selected plant defence activators were employed to induce systemic resistance in a susceptible cultivar of ginger

against <i>Pythium aphanidermatum </i>(Edson) Fitz., a severe rhizome rot causing pathogen. Among the 6 cultivars of

ginger tested, Varada was most susceptible, followed by Suprabha and Maran. Prior to sowing, soaking of rhizome

seeds for 1 hr in 5 m<i>M</i> salicylic acid (SA), DL-<img src='/image/spc_char/beta.gif' border=0>-aminobutyric acid (BABA) or 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole (BTH),

significantly reduced the disease. Systemic protection against disease was evident even after 8 weeks of treatment.

Analysis of leaf proteins of non-inoculated, inoculated and activator-treated both non-inoculated and inoculated

plants (cv. Suprabha) by SDS-PAGE (Sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) and Image

Master VDS-ID gel analysis version 3.0 showed 18 protein bands including 3-5 defence related proteins having

molecular masses 67, 56, 32, 20 and 14 kDa. These defence proteins increased in activator-treated inoculated plants

and enhanced the resistance against <i>P. aphanidermatum. In vitro </i>growth response of <i>P. aphanidermatum </i>to different

conc. of SA,BABAand BTH was tested. SAand BABA,respectively were the most and least inhibitory to the fungus.