Systemic induction of pathogenesis related proteins (PRs) in Alternaria solani elicitor sensitized tomato cells as resistance response

Induction of acquired resistance and pathogenesis related proteins in intact plant leaves and the potentiation of pathogen signals in plant cell cultures by elicitors is mediated by different signaling pathways. We show here, the induction of PR proteins, the most widely used marker of acquired resistance, in tomato cells in response to Alternaria solani elicitors. The crude glycoprotein elicitor preparation from A. solani was used to detect the possible induction of pathogenesis - related proteins chitinase (PR-3), thaumatin like proteins (PR-5) and β- 1,3 glucanase in suspension - cultured cells and leaves of tomato cultivar CO 3. Western blot analysis revealed the presence of 23 kDa thaumatin like protein and 44 kDa chitinase in elicitor treated suspension - cultured cells and leaves of tomato. The biochemical approach described in this paper with tomato should provide the basis for further efforts concentrating on the isolation and characterization of elements involved in perception and in the early steps of intracellular signal transduction.