Chemically-induced resistance to Rotylenchulus reniformis by ethephon growth regulant and relevant pathometabolites in mango seedlings

Abstract

Plant growth regulators have been reported to induce broad spectrum effects and to modify the physiology of the plant and nematode parasitism (Davide and Triantaphyllou, 1968; Mjuge and Viglierchio, 1976). It was shown in an earlier study that the effects of plant retardants and promotors on the growth of guava and associated Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid et White) Chitwood populations were largely dosage dependant (Badra et al., 1980). Roots of plants pretreated with supra-optimal doses of daminozide and chlorocholine chloride retardants or ethephon and GA stimulators were less galled than untreated plants or those receiving sub-optimal doses of the chemicals. Present research attempted to trigger resistance to nematode parasitism in a host plant by the application of supraoptimal rates of an ethylene-generator chemical. Metabolic changes, mainly auxin-phenol interactions, were investigated as a possible underlying mechanism in host resistance (Giebel, 1970).