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Auxin-Induced Resistance to Common Scab Disease of Potato Linked to Inhibition of Thaxtomin A Toxicity

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-16, 20:28 authored by Robert TeggRobert Tegg, Warwick GillWarwick Gill, Thompson, HK, Noel DaviesNoel Davies, John RossJohn Ross, Calum WilsonCalum Wilson
Production of the phytotoxin thaxtomin A by pathogenic Streptomyces spp. is essential for induction of common scab disease in potato. Prior studies have shown that foliar application of sublethal concentrations of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and other auxin or auxin-like compounds significantly reduced severity and occurrence of common scab in subsequently produced tubers. However, the means of disease suppression by these compounds was not known. We confirm the disease suppressive activity of 2,4-D. Detailed tuber physiological examination showed that lenticel numbers, lenticel external dimensions, and periderm thickness and structure, physiological features believed to be critical to Streptomyces scabiei infection, were not substantially changed by 2,4-D treatments, negating a possible mechanism for disease suppression through alteration of these structures. In contrast, our studies show accumulation of 2,4-D in tubers of treated plants occurs and is associated with an enhanced tolerance to thaxtomin A. Applying 2,4-D to cultures of S. scabiei did not significantly alter in vitro growth of the pathogen. Thaxtomin A production by the pathogen was inhibited by 2,4-D, but only at the highest rate tested (1.0 mM), which is at least 200-fold more than is found in 2,4-D treated tubers. These data suggest 2,4-D has no direct effect on the pathogen or its virulence. Confirmatory evidence from studies with Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings demonstrated that the auxins 2,4-D and IAA ameliorate thaxtomin A toxicity. The evidence presented whereby auxin treatment inhibits toxicity of thaxtomin A secreted by the pathogen suggests a novel indirect means of disease suppression. © 2008 The American Phytopathological Society.

History

Publication title

Plant Disease

Volume

92

Issue

9

Pagination

1321-1328

ISSN

0191-2917

Department/School

Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA)

Publisher

American Phytopathological Society

Place of publication

The United States

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Field grown vegetable crops

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