Tea tree oil induces systemic resistance against fusarium wilt in banana and xanthomonas infection in tomato plants

Ronaldo J.D. Dalio, Heros J. Maximo, Rafaela Roma-Almeida, Janaína N. Barretta, Eric M. José, Agnelo J. Vitti, Daphna Blachinsky, Moshe Reuveni, Sérgio F. Pascholati

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The essential tea tree oil (TTO) derived from Melaleuca alternifolia plant is widely used as a biopesticide to protect crops from several plant-pathogens. Its activity raised queries regarding its ability to, not only act as a bio-fungicide or bio-bactericide, but also systemically inducing resistance in plants. This was examined by TTO application to banana plants challenged by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc, Race 1) causing Fusarium wilt and to tomato plants challenged by Xanthomonas campestris. Parameters to assess resistance induction included: disease development, enzymatic activity, defense genes expression correlated to systemic acquired resistance (SAR) and induced systemic resistance (ISR) and priming effect. Spraying TTO on field-grown banana plants infected with Foc and greenhouse tomato plants infected with Xanthomonas campestris led to resistance induction in both hosts. Several marker genes of salicylic acid, jasmonic acid and ethylene pathways were significantly up-regulated in parallel with symptoms reduction. For tomato plants, we have also recorded a priming effect following TTO treatment. In addition to fungicidal and bactericidal effect, TTO can be applied in more sustainable strategies to control diseases by enhancing the plants ability to defend themselves against pathogens and ultimately diminish chemical pesticides applications.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1137
Pages (from-to)1-16
Number of pages16
JournalPlants
Volume9
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - 2 Sep 2020

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Funding: This research received no external funding and was supported by the The Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq 445390/2014–0 and 465440/2014–2).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Keywords

  • Fusarium oxysporum
  • Resistance (ISR) and priming effect
  • Tea tree oil (TTO)
  • Xanthomonas spp

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Ecology
  • Plant Science

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