Assessment of the role of fluorescent root and seed exudates in crop plants

YARYURA, PM; ; CORDÓN, G; ; LEÓN, M; KERBER, N;; PUCHEU, N; ; LAGORIO, M G; RUBIO, G; ; VIVANCO, J.; GARCIA A

JOURNAL OF PLANT NUTRITION

TAYLOR & FRANCIS INC

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2013 vol. 36 p. 811 - 824

0190-4167

Fluorescent compounds have been reported in plant leaves, having an important biological rolein the protection towards UV irradiation. It is also known that stress conditions in plants stimulatethe production of some of these compounds in their aerial portion. However, less is known abouttheir production by roots or seeds and their presence in the soil surrounding them. We report herethat, soybean, sunflowers and rapeseed produced fluorescent seed and root exudates. Phosphorusdeficiency in rapeseed stimulates the excretion of fluorescent compounds by roots, mainly chlorogenic acid and scopoletin. When the effect of the fluorescent fraction from soybean seed exudates on Macrophomina phaseolina was tested, an enhanced induction of sclerotia formation, hyphal squeezing and lysis in the mycelium was observed. The fluorescent compounds and perhaps other chemical molecules also present in exudates might constitute a transitory defense barrier against early attack by pathogens.