FytoSol, a Promising Plant Defense Elicitor, Controls Early Blight (Alternaria solani) Disease in the Tomato by Inducing Host Resistance-Associated Gene Expression

Early blight (EB), caused by the necrotrophic pathogen Alternaria solani, is one of most common and destructive diseases in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). The use fungicides a prominent tactic used to control EB; however, their undesirable effects on environment human health, as well involvement development resistant strains, have driven researchers search for new alternatives. Plant defense elicitors are exogenous defense-triggering molecules that induce plant’s system associated with extensive transcriptional- metabolic reprogramming genome do not cause direct toxicity phytopathogens. Moreover, 2,6-dichloroisonicotinic acid (INA) was an early-identified strong plant elicitor various Recently, combination chitosan oligomers pectin-derived oligogalacturonides can mimic induction plants or damaged-derived (PAMP DAMP) were characterized elicitors, named FytoSol. In this study, preventive roles these two elicitors—FytoSol INA—against EB disease its molecular basis, explored. According results, FytoSol significantly reduced severity average 30% almost month AUDPC value 399 compared control, which had 546. On contrary, INA did provide any protection against EB. Gene expression analyses distinct indicated patterns several SA-, JA-, ET-pathway-related genes (Pti4, TPK1b, Pto kinase, TomloxD, PRB1-2, SABP2, WRKY33b, WRKY70, PR-5, PR3) induced differently. extensively upregulated gene expressions PR3, downregulated SA-related pathway, provided remarkable solani. mostly related biotrophic and/or hemibiotrophic protection. Our results indicate promising modes action important characterize pathogens. Further research may extend alternatives pesticides agriculture.