Effect of foliar application of Pseudomonas fluorescens on activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, Chitinase and β-1,3-Glucanase and accumulation of phenolics in rice

Changes in activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, chitinase, β-1,3-glucanase and phenolic content in rice leaves were measured at different times after treatment of leaves with Pseudomonas fluorescens strain Pf1. When rice leaves were sprayed with P. fluorescens, substantial increase in the phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity was observed 1 day after treatment. Following increase of the first enzyme of the phenylpropanoid pathway, phenolic content of rice leaves also increased to a maximum at 4 days after P. fluorescens treatment. Chitinase activity increased in rice leaves in response to application of P. fluorescens and the maximum enzyme activity was observed 3 days after treatment. β-1,3-Glucanase activity also increased significantly from 1 day after P. fluorescens treatment and continued to increase through 7 days. A five-fold increase in glucanase activity was observed 7 days after P. fluorescens treatment.