Chemical changes in Ulmus minor xylem tissue after salicylic acid or carvacrol treatments are associated with enhanced resistance to Ophiostoma novo-ulmi

• Published in: Phytochemistry (Oxford) Vol. 83; pp. 104 - 109
• Main Authors: Martín, Juan A., Solla, Alejandro, García-Vallejo, María C., Gil, Luis
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2012
• Subjects: Antifungal Agents - chemistry; Antifungal Agents - pharmacology; carvacrol; Ceratocystis ulmi; chemical composition; Dutch elm disease; Elicitors; essential oils; esters; Fatty acids; Field elm; gas chromatography; Indexing in process; irrigation; lignin; mass spectrometry; metabolism; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Monoterpenes - chemistry; Monoterpenes - pharmacology; Ophiostoma; Ophiostoma - drug effects; Ophiostoma - growth & development; Ophiostoma novo-ulmi; pathogens; Phenolic compounds; plant hormones; salicylic acid; Salicylic Acid - chemistry; Salicylic Acid - pharmacology; sapwood; seedlings; sinapyl alcohol; stearic acid; tree growth; Tree susceptibility; trees; Ulmaceae; Ulmus - chemistry; Ulmus minor; Xylem - chemistry; Dutch elm disease; Field elm; Ophiostoma novo-ulmi; Tree susceptibility; Elicitors; Ulmus minor; Ulmaceae; Phenolic compounds; Fatty acids
• ISSN: 0031-9422; 1873-3700
• DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2012.07.017

Application of exogenous salicylic acid or carvacrol in Ulmus minor altered the chemical composition of the xylem tissues of trees and significantly enhanced tree resistance to the Dutch elm disease pathogen. The accumulation of certain chemical compounds probably related with the enhanced resistance provided by the treatments is discussed. [Display omitted] ► Elm trees were treated with either salicylic acid (SA) or carvacrol (CA). ► SA-treated trees showed a marked accumulation of sinapyl alcohol. ► CA-treated trees showed a marked change of fatty acid composition. ► Both treatments resulted in enhanced tree resistance to Dutch elm disease. Application of endogenous plant hormone salicylic acid (SA) or essential oil component carvacrol (CA) in elms enhances tree resistance to the Dutch elm disease pathogen, although the effect of these compounds on tree metabolism is unknown. The chemical changes induced by SA or CA treatments in Ulmus minor were studied through gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis of xylem tissues. Treatments consisted of fortnightly irrigating seedlings with water, SA or CA at 600mgL−1. The chemical composition of the xylem tissues sampled from treated trees was significantly altered depending on the treatment type. SA treatment induced an accumulation of the sinapyl alcohol, a precursor of lignin and other phenylpropanoid-derived products. CA treatment induced an accumulation of the methyl esters of palmitic, linoleic and stearic acids. Both treatments resulted in early bud burst and SA significantly reduced sapwood radial growth, possibly as a consequence of a trade-off between tree growth and tree defence. The enhanced resistance provided by these treatments is discussed.