Gene expression profiling and protection of Medicago truncatula against a fungal infection in response to an elicitor from green algae Ulva spp

Abstract

Elicitors are molecules known to trigger plant defence responses against pathogens. In a search for new sources of eliciting compounds from marine algae, an extract was prepared from green algae, Ulva spp., and its elicitor activity was established on the model legume, Medicago truncatula. When infiltrated into plant tissues or sprayed onto the leaves, this extract induced the expression of the defence‐related marker gene PR10 without provoking necrosis. Spraying a solution at 500 µ g mL−1 was sufficient to obtain maximum induction of PR10 after 2 d. Using a cDNA array enriched in genes potentially involved in plant defence, the expression of 152 genes was monitored after one or two consecutive treatments. A broad range of defence‐related transcripts was found to be up‐regulated, notably genes involved in the biosynthesis of phytoalexins, pathogenesis‐related proteins and cell wall proteins. In contrast, the expression of primary metabolism‐related genes did not change significantly. Consistent with its effect on defence gene expression, it was found that prior treatment of M. truncatula with the Ulva extract protected the plants against subsequent infection by the pathogenic fungus Colletotrichum trifolii.