| An aqueous extract of the mycelium of Penicillium chrysogenum (further called ‘Pen’ induced early defense-related responses such as an extracellular alkalinisation in cell cultures and ethylene production in leaf slices of numerous mono- and dicotyledon plant species, including Arabidopsis thaliana, tomato, tobacco and rice. The Pen-elicitor was sensitive to protease digestion but insensitive to other enzymes, suggesting that the elicitor-active region is a protein or a peptide. Reversed phase, ion exchange and size exclusion chromatography revealed that the Penelicitor is heterogeneous. This prevented further identification of the elicitor. Pen protected A. thaliana from a broad range of pathogens, including an oomycete (Hyaloperonospora parasitica), two... |
