Pretreatment with Chitosan Prevents Fusarium Infection and Induces the Expression of Chitinases and β-1,3-Glucanases in Garlic (Allium sativum L.)

Fusarium infection decreases the yield of garlic (Allium sativum L.); however, knowledge about response to fungal attack is limited. Chitosan induces plant defense stress conditions. Here, we analyzed effects chitosan with low (Ch1, 39 kDa) and medium (Ch2, 135 molecular weight on in garlic. Ch1 Ch2 at concentrations 0.125–0.400 mg/mL suppressed growth proliferatum cultures vitro. Pretreatment bulbs or prevented disease symptoms after F. inoculation, while exerting early inhibitory late stimulatory chitinase β-1,3-glucanase activities. Ch1/Ch2 treatment already infected caused transcriptional upregulation chitinases β-1,3-glucanases stage, which was maintained stage Ch2-treated samples, but not Ch1-treated where inhibition observed. The effect pretreatment expression endo-β-1,3-glucanase genes stronger than that pretreatment, suggesting could be more effective pre-sowing bulbs. Our results provide insights into Fusarium, a novel strategy protect crop against infection.