EPOXICONAZOLE-INDUCED STIMULATION OF THE ANTIFUNGAL HYDROLASES CHITINASE AND BETA-1,3-GLUCANASE IN WHEAT

Young plants of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Star), which were trea ted hydroponically with the triazole fungicide epoxiconazole (BAS 480 F) over a period of 8 days, showed a dose-dependent stimulation of the enzyme activities of the two antifungal hydrolases chitinase and beta -1,3-glucanase in the shoot tissue. In the root tissue, no significant rise in the enzyme activities was found. As shown by immunoblot analy sis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using antisera again st tobacco acidic and basic chitinases and beta-1,3-glucanases, the ob served increase in the activities coincided with an accumulation of en zyme proteins. This possibly indicates the induction of a de novo synt hesis of chitinases and beta-1,3-glucanases by epoxiconazole. To our k nowledge, this effect of a synthetic fungicide on antifungal hydrolase s in an intact plant is demonstrated for the first time.