Analysis of defense-related proteins in stem tissue of carnation inoculated with a virulent and avirulent race of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. dianthi

The aim of this study was to learn more about the accumulation of defense-related proteins in stem tissue from carnation cultivar Pallas inoculated with 2 near-isogenic races, the avirulent race 1 and the virulent race 8 of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. dianthi. Stem tissue was used, from which the epidermis, cortex and medulla were peeled off from the vascular cylinder. It appeared that chitinase activity was constitutively expressed in the intercellular fluids (IFs) of untreated leaves, stems and roots of carnation. The total chitinase activity in the IFs of stem tissue increased with time after inoculation. This increase was similar after inoculation with the virulent, the avirulent race and water. At least four chitinase isoenzymes, three acidic and one basic isoform, were detected in the IFs of inoculated plants. In contrast, total 1,3-beta-glucanase activity was not detected in the IFs of untreated leaves, stems and roots. Furthermore, the increases in 1,3-beta-glucanase activity in IFs of stem tissue were markedly higher in the compatible and incompatible interactions than in the water control, indicating that this activity is specially induced by elicitors common to both races 1 and 8 of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. dianthi. Using an antiserum against 1,3-beta-glucanase P3 of tomato, 2 bands were detected on immunoblots in the IFs of stem tissue inoculated with races 1 and 8. No bands were visible after inoculation with water. Total peroxidase activity increased with time in all combinations. One basic and one acidic peroxidase isoform were present in these IFs. Peroxidase activity in a cell wall fraction prepared from stem tissue was clearly higher, and its increase faster, than the activity in the soluble stem fraction. These increases were similar in the virulent, the avirulent race and the water control. The growth of the fungus Trichoderma viride was inhibited by the IFs obtained from stem tissue inoculated with the virulent and the avirulent race of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. dianthi. However, the growth of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. dianthi itself was not affected by these IFs.