Abstract:

Nitric oxide (NO) and jasmonates (JAs) are important signaling molecules in plant disease resistance. Recent studies have shown the evidences about NO cross talks with jasmonic aicd (JA) pathway. In order to find the relationship between NO and JAs during disease resistance induction, tomato fruits (Lycopersicon esculentum cv. No.4 Zhongshu) were treated with different concentration of NO, then measured the effects on resistance to Botrytis cinerea Pers., NO level, JAs content, the key enzyme activity of JA biosynthesis and phenylalnine ammonialyase activity which is related to disease resistance. Our results showed that treatment with NO could induce disease resistance at all NO levels tested, however, the most obvious induction symptom was recorded in low concentration (0.02 mmol/L). Low concentration treatment increased JAs contents and the key enzyme activity of JA biosynthesis, while inhibited in high concentration treatment.

Key words: tomato fruits, nitric oxide, jasmonates, disease resistance