Induced Resistance: stimulating a plant's natural defenses

Lucius Tamm and Barbara Thuerig.

Sponsor(s)/Partners

Biochemie, Austria; University of Basel, Switzerland; Syngenta, Switzerland.

Purpose

To develop resistance inducers that are suitable for use in organic systems. The metabolic processes through which aqueous extracts of Penicillum chrysogenum (PEN) cell wall fragments work were explored.

Methods

The determination of the signal pathways involved in Penicillum chrysogenum induced resistance was made by using different strains of the plant, Arabidopsis thaliana, with several pathogens.

Results

Although commercial application remains tenuous, the first project phase showed that PEN is active against a wide spectrum of pathogens affecting a number of host species as it contains one or more of the substances, or substance groups which trigger the metabolic processes typical of induced resistance.

Project Duration

First phase 1997-2000.