Expression of β-1,3-glucanase (GLU) and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) genes and their enzymes in tomato plants induced after treatment with Bacillus subtilis CBR05 against Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria

When 4-week-old tomato plants, which developed from seeds treated with antagonist Bacillus subtilis CBR05 before sowing, were challenged with Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria (XCV), activities of plant-defense enzymes beta-1,3-glucanase (GLU, 42.5%) and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL; 93.9%) were significantly higher than in control plants at 72 h after inoculation with XCV. Also, GLU- and PAL-related genes were upregulated 2- and 3-fold, respectively, in these plants. Our results suggest that expression of GLU- and PAL-related genes in plants from seeds pretreated with B. subtilis are pivotal for inducing disease resistance against XCV.