Using tomato seedlings, the plant defence activator acibenzolar-S-methyl (benzo-[1,2,3]-thiadiazole-7-carbothioic acid-S-methyl ester, ASM; Bion 50 WG) was assayed for its ability to induce resistance against Clavibacter michiganensis ssp. michiganensis , the causal agent of bacterial canker of tomato. In ASM-pretreated plants, reduction in disease severity (up to 76·3%) was correlated with lower bacterial growth (up to 68·2% lower) during the time course of infection. To understand the possible mechanism of action of ASM, alterations in the activities of peroxidase (POX) and chitinase were assessed as markers of resistance. The enhanced resistance of ASM-treated plants was associated with significant increases in the activities of POX and chitinase

Beneficial microorganisms (also known as biopesticides) are considered to be one of the most promising methods for more rational and safe crop management practices. We used Bacillus strains EU07, QST713 and FZB24, and investigated their inhibitory effect on Fusarium. Bacterial cell cultures, cell-free supernatants and volatiles displayed varying degrees of suppressive effect. Proteomic analysis of secreted proteins from EU07 and FZB24 revealed the presence of lytic enzymes, cellulases, proteases, 1,4-β-glucanase and hydrolases, all of which contribute to degradation of the pathogen cell wall. Further proteomic investigations showed that proteins involved in metabolism, protein folding, protein degradation, translation, recognition and signal transduction cascade play an important role in the control of Fusarium oxysporum. Our findings provide new knowledge on the mechanism of action of Bacillus species and insight into biocontrol mechanisms.

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Fusarium oxysporum f. melongenae is a major soil-borne pathogen of eggplant (Solanum melongena). ISSR and RAPD markers were used to characterize Fusarium oxysporum f. melongenae isolates collected from eggplant fields in southern Turkey. Those isolates were not pathogenic to tomato. Pathogens were identified by their morphology, and their identity was confirmed by PCR amplification using the specific primer PF02-3. The isolates were classified into groups on the basis of ISSR and RAPD fingerprints, which showed a level of genetic specificity and diversity not previously identified in Fusarium oxysporum f. melongenae, suggesting that genetic differences are related to the pathogen in the Mediterranean region. The primers selected to characterize Fusarium oxysporum f. melongenae may be used to determine genetic differences and pathogen virulence. This study is the first to characterize eggplant F. oxysporum species using ISSR and RAPD.

The leaves of pepper (Capsicum anuum L.) were inoculated with Phytophthora capsici Leonian 3 d after treatment with acibenzolar-S-methylbenzo [1,2,3]thiadiazole-7-carbothioic acid-S-methyl ester (ASM) and resistance to Phytophthora blight disease was investigated. Results showed that P. capsici was significantly inhibited by ASM treatment by up to 45 % in planta. The pepper plants responded to ASM treatments by rapid and transient induction of L-phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), increase in total phenol content and activities of chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase. No significant increases in enzyme activities were observed in water-treated control plants compared with the ASM-treated plants. Therefore it may be suggested that ASM induces defense-related enzymes, PAL activity, PR proteins and phenol accumulation in ASM-treated plants and contribute to enhance resistance against P. capsici.

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Bacterial canker is an economically important disease of tomato. Resistance induced by DL-b-Amino butyric acid against bacterial canker caused by Clavibacter michiganensis ssp. michiganensis in tomato plants was investigated. Different doses of DL-b-Amino butyric acid (250-1000 lg ml )1 doses) were tested on 3-week old plants inoculated with a 10 8 CFU ml )1 bacterial suspension, and disease development was evaluated after inoculation and treatment. Although in vitro growth of the bacteria was not affected by DLb-Amino butyric acid treatment, foliage sprays of 500 lg ml )1 DL-b-Amino butyric acid significantly suppressed disease development up to 54% by day 14 after inoculation at the four different doses tested. Bacterial populations were reduced by 84% in BABA-treated plants compared to water-treated plants by day 4 after inoculation. Inoculated BABA-treated plants showed significantly higher phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity, peroxidase activity, and H 2 O 2 concentration than inoculated water-treated plants during day 1 after treatment. These findings suggest that the DL-b-Amino butyric acid treatment resulted in an increase of these enzymes and in H 2 O 2 concentration in planta, and was associated with induction of resistance to bacterial canker.