Elicitation of ethylene by Verticillium albo-atrum phytotoxins in potato

Petioles from a susceptible cultivar (Desiree) of Solanum tuberosum treated with a low-molecular mass toxin, separated from culture fluid of Verticillium albo-atrum, produced greater quantities of ethylene than did petioles of a tolerant cultivar (Home Guard). Pretreatment of leaflets from cv. Desiree with silver thiosulphite, which inhibits perception of ethylene, prevented the chlorosis and necrosis normally associated with exposure to the toxin. Similarly, application of aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) an inhibitor of aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) synthase, to petioles of cv. Desiree reduced toxin-induced ethylene synthesis and symptom development. The data indicate that, in part, Verticillium-toxin acts through induction of ethylene biosynthesis in the host tissues, and different responses of susceptible and tolerant potato cultivars to V. albo-atrum are the result of differential production of ethylene.