Linoleic acid-induced expression of defense genes and enzymes in tobacco.

Linoleic acid (LA) is a naturally occurring fatty acid (FA) found to elicit induced systemic resistance (ISR) of tobacco against the bacterial soft rot pathogen, Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum (PCC). In this study, we examined effects of six doses of exogenous LA on the induction of defense genes and enzymes.

Adverse effects of nitrate on stem nodules of Sesbania rostrata Brem.

When the stems of Sesbania rostrata, growing vigorously in nutrient solution, are inoculated with Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS 571 and deprived of nitrate, hundreds of nodules with active N fixation (acetylene reduction) develop on each stem within 10 d. The numbers of nodules that develop are not affected by increasing the nitrate concentration in the medium from 0 to 9 mM. However, as the nitrate concentration is raised above about 2 mM the growth of the nodules is strongly inhibited and all aspects of acetylene reduction activity (ARA) are progressively curtailed as the nitrate concentration is increased from zero.