Effect of Salicylic and Jasmonic Acids on the Content of Hydrogen Peroxide and Transcriptional Activity of the Genes Encoding Defense Proteins in Wheat Plants Infected with Tilletia caries (DC.) Tull.

Abstract

We investigated the effect of presowing treatment of seeds with salicylic (SA) and jasmonic (JA) acids on the growth of wheat Triticum aestivum L. seedlings, generation of hydrogen peroxide (Н₂О₂) therein, and transcriptional activity of the genes encoding defense proteins—oxalate oxidase (OxO), peroxidase (PO), and proteinase inhibitor (PI)—upon their inoculation with stinking smut pathogen Tilletia caries (DC.) Tull. SA and JA were found to reduce adverse effect of T. caries on growth of seedlings and the extent of their infection by the pathogen. Improvement of plant resistance to T. caries depended on a stimulatory effect of SA and JA on the formation of Н₂О₂ in plant tissues and changes in activity of ОхО, PO, and catalase. SA was shown to elevate transcriptional activity of the genes of oxalate oxidase and peroxidase. We detected a considerable stimulatory effect of JA on transcriptional activity of the gene encoding proteinase inhibitor. Revealed differences in the activation of defense proteins pointed to differing mechanisms of SA and JA action on protective potential of wheat plants infected with T. caries.