Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria-mediated induction of phenolics in pea (Pisum sativum) after infection with Erysiphe pisi

Qualitative and quantitative estimation of phenolic compounds was done through high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in different parts of pea (Pisum sativum) after treatment with two plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), viz., Pseudomonas fluorescens (strain Pf4) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (referred to here as Pag) and infection by Erysiphe pisi. The phenolic compounds detected were tannic, gallic, ferulic, and cinnamic acids on the basis of their retention time in HPLC. In all the treated plants, synthesis of phenolic compounds was enhanced. The induction of gallic, ferulic, and cinnamic acids was manyfold more than those in the control. Maximum accumulation of phenolic compounds was observed in plants raised from PGPR-treated seeds and infection with E. pisi.. Under pathogenic stress, Pag performed better because a relatively higher amount of phenolics was induced compared with plants treated with Pf4.