Effect of β-aminobutyric acid (BABA) on protection againstPhytophthora infestansthroughout the potato crop cycle

Abstract

The protective effect of b-aminobutyric acid (BABA) on two potato cultivars (Bintje and Pampeana) with different levels of horizontal resistance against Phytophthora infestans was investigated during the crop cycle. Plants were treated with BABA 16, 23, 30, 38, 44, 51, 61 or 75 days after emergence. After each application, the percentage of protection and the content of glucanases, chitinases and phenolic compounds were determined in detached leaves. The foliar pretreatment with BABA up to 30 days after emergence showed a 60% protection percentage against P. infestans in cv. Pampeana, while cv. Bintje almost reached 20%. The results indicated that the time of application of BABA and the susceptibility of the cultivars affect both the protection against late blight and the expression of defence molecules like glucanases, chitinases and phenolic compounds.

Induced resistance in potato to Phytphthora infestans—effects of BABA in greenhouse and field tests with different potato varieties

“…The lesion sizes were reduced by 40-50% compared to the untreated control, which is in accordance with many earlier studies of BABA induced resistance in potato (Jeun et al 2000;Jakab et al 2001;Cohen 2002;SiAmmour et al 2003;Altamiranda et al 2008). Also in field trials we found an effect of BABA alone, There are few reports on duration of the improved resistance due to BABA treatment but it appear to depend on the pathosystem (see review by Cohen 2002).…”

“…As a comparison, full dose of the fungicide Shirlan delayed the infection by 11 days in Bintje and 14 days in Ovatio. Altamiranda et al (2008) found in greenhouse trials no significant protective effect on the highly susceptible cv. Bintje, while in the more resistant cv.…”

“…to apply non-toxic compounds or organisms that stimulate or prime plant defence. Among the most reported effective inducing agents in potato is BABA (DL-β-aminobutyric acid), a non-protein amino acid (Cohen and Gisi 1994;Jakab et al 2001;Cohen 2002;Kim and Jeun 2007;Altamiranda et al 2008;Olivieri et al 2009). Only once has it been reported to have effect also under field conditions and this study was carried out in Israel (Cohen 2002).…”

“…the level of resistance (Andreu et al 2006;Altamiranda et al 2008 andOlivieri et al 2009). Altamiranda et al (2008) reported that foliar treatments with BABA 30 days after crop emergence showed a 60% and 20% efficacy against late blight in the moderately resistant cv. Pampeana and the highly susceptible cv.…”

Effect of &#946;-Amino Butyric Acid in Induction of Resistance against <I>Xanthomonas campestris</I> Pv. <I>campestris</I> in Cabbage

“…citri (Sharifi et al, 2011) which is not directly shown antifungal and antibacterial activities. However, it induces a wide variety of defense mechanisms in the plants like accumulation of PR proteins involved in the antimicrobial activity, depending on the pathogen and its host plant (Altamiranda et al, 2008;Sasek et al, 2011). Interestingly, it has been observed that BABA induces resistance in cauliflower, cabbage, brown mustard, sunflower and lettuce against diseases, but it does not induce the accumulation of PR proteins (Silue et al, 2002;Amzalek and Cohen 2007;Kamble and Bhargava 2007;Cohen et al, 2010).…”