Skip to main content
ARS Home » Midwest Area » East Lansing, Michigan » Sugarbeet and Bean Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #112378
Title: PRODUCTION OF CHITINASE DURING THE DEFENSE RESPONSE OF SUGARBEET TAP ROOTS

Author
item NAGENDRAN, SUBASHINI - MICHIGAN ST UNIVERSITY
item Halloin, John

Submitted to: American Phytopathological Society Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/24/2000
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Sugarbeet leaves produce chitinases as pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins in response to infection by Cercospora beticola. We initiated studies to determine if chitinases are produced during the defense response of tap roots. Previous work in our laboratory showed that sugarbeet tap roots produce phenolic compounds (PCs) as part of their defense response against Rhizoctonia solani (RS) AG2-2. These compounds are produced at cool (<15C) but not at warm (>25C) temperatures, and are induced by abiotic elicitors. Initial results demonstrated that both RS and solutions of chitosan elicited production of both PCs and chitinase. Continuing studies will focus on temperature and temporal aspects of chitinase production. We anticipate that improved understanding of these relationships will enable use of chitinases as PR protein markers for future studies on the molecular basis of temperature-controlled disease resistance of sugarbeet roots.