Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

β-Aminobutyric Acid-induced Resistance in Plants

  • Published:
European Journal of Plant Pathology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Thehe broad sprectrum protective effect of the non-protein amino acid β-aminobutyric acid (BABA) against numerous plant diseases has been well-documented in the literature. Here, we present an overview of BABA-induced protection in various pathosystems. Contriidictory reports concerning the mechanism of action underlying this type of protection incited us to take advantage of Arabidopsis/pathogen interactions as model systems to investigate the action of BABA at the genetic and molecular level. We present evidence that the protective effect of BABA is due to a potentiation of natural defense mechanisms against biotic and abiotic stresses. In order to dissect the pathways involved in potentiation by BABA describe the use of a mutational approach based on BABA-induced female sterility in Arabidopsis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aist JR (1976) Papillae and related wound plugs of plant cells. Annu Rev Phytopathol 14: 145-163

    Google Scholar 

  • Benhamou N and Theriault G (1992) Treatment with chitosan enhances resistance of tomato plants to the crown and root rot pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici. Physiol Mol Plant Pathol 41: 33-52

    Google Scholar 

  • Benhamou N, Lafontaine PJ and Nicole M (1994) Induction of systemic resistance of Fusarium crown and root rot in tomato plants by seed treatment with chitosan. Phytopathology 84: 1432-1444

    Google Scholar 

  • Betz H (1992) Structure and function of the inhibitory glycine receptor. Q Rev Biophys 25: 381-394

    Google Scholar 

  • Chérif M, Asselin A and Bélanger RR (1993) Defense responses induced by soluble silicon in cucumber roots infected by Pythium spp. Phytopathology 82: 236-242

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen Y(1994) 3-Aminobutyric acid induces systemic resistance against Peronospora tabacina. Physiol Mol Plant Pathol 44: 273-288

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen Y (2000) Method for protecting plants from fungal infection. United States Patent 6,075,051

  • Cohen Y and Gisi U (1994) Sytemic translocation of 14C-DL-3-aminobutyric acid in tomato plants in relation to induced resistance against Phytophthora infestans. Physiol Mol Plant Pathol 45: 441-446

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen Y, Gisi U and Mösinger E (1991) Systemic resistance of potato plants against Phytophthora infestans induced by unsaturated fatty acids. Physiol Mol Plant Path 38: 255-263

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen Y, Niderman T, Mösinger E and Fluhr R (1994) β-Aminobutyric acid induces the accumulation of pathogenesis-related proteins in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) plants and resistance to late blight infection caused by Phytophthora infestans. Plant Physiol 104: 59-66

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen Y, Reuveni M and Baider A (1999) Local and systemic activity of BABA (DL-3-aminobutyric acid) against Plasmopara viticola in grapevines. Eur J Plant Pathol 105: 351-361

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen Y, Ovadia A and Oka Y (2000) Is induced-resistance reversible? The BABA case. In: First International Symposium on Induced resistance to plant diseases, Island of Corfu, Greece, 22-27 May 2000 (Abstract)

  • Coquoz JL, Buchala AJ, Meuwly P and Métraux JP (1995) Arachidonic acid treatment of potato plants induces local synthesis of salicylic acid and confers systemic resistance to Phytophthora infestans and Alternaria solani. Phytopathology 85: 1219-1224

    Google Scholar 

  • Daaf F, Schmitt A and Belanger RR (1995) The effects of plant extracts of Reynoutria sachalinensis on powdery mildew development and leaf physiology of long English cucumber. Plant Disease 79: 577-580

    Google Scholar 

  • De Martinis D and Mariani C (1999) Silencing gene expression of the ethylene-forming enzyme results in a reversible inhibition of ovule development in transgenic tobacco plants. Plant Cell 11: 1061-1071

    Google Scholar 

  • Feldman KA (1992) T-DNA insertion mutagenesis in Arabidopsis: seed infection/transformation. In: Koncz C, Chua N-H and Schell J (eds) Methods in Arabidopsis Research (pp 274-289), World Scientific, Singapore

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedrich L, Lawton K, Ruess W, Masner P, Specker N, Gut Rella M, Meier B, Dincher S, Staub T, Uknes S, Métraux JP, Kessmann H and Ryals J (1996) A benzothiadiazole derivative induces systemic acquired resistance in tobacco. Plant J 10: 61-70

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaffney T, Friedrich L, Vernooij B, Negrotto D, Nye G, Uknes S, Ward E, Kessman H and Ryals J (1993) Requirement of salicylic acid for the induction of systemic acquired resistance. Science 261: 754-756

    Google Scholar 

  • Gamliel A and Katan J (1992) Influence of seed and root exudates on fluorescent Pseudomonas and fungi in solarized soil. Phytopathology 82: 320-327

    Google Scholar 

  • Görlach J, Volrath S, Knauf-Beiter G, Hengy G, Beckhove U, Kogel KH, Oostendorp M, Staub T, Ward E, Kessmann H and Ryals J (1996) Benzothiadiazole, a novel class of inducers of systemic acquired resistance, activates gene expression and disease resistance in wheat. Plant Cell 8: 629-643

    Google Scholar 

  • Gottstein HD and Kuc JA (1989) Induction of systemic resistance to anthracnose in cucumber by phosphates. Phytopathology 79: 176-179

    Google Scholar 

  • Hadwiger LA and Beckman JM (1980) Chitosan as a component of pea-Fusarium solani interactions. Plant Physiol 66: 205-211

    Google Scholar 

  • Hae-Keun Y, So-Young Y, Seung-Heun Y and Doil C (1999) Cloning of pathogenesis-related protein-1 gene from Nicotiniana glutinosa L. and its salicylic acid-independent induction by copper and β-aminobutyric acid. J Plant Physiol 154: 327-333

    Google Scholar 

  • Hong JK, Hwang BK and Kim CH (1999) Induction of local and systemic resistance to Colletotrichum coccodes in pepper plants by DL-beta-aminobutyric acid. J Phytopathol 147: 193-198

    Google Scholar 

  • Kalix S, Anfoka G, Li Y, Stadnik M and Buchernauer H (1996) Induced resistance in some selected crops - prospects and limitations. In: Modern Fungicides and Antifungal Compounds (pp 451-460), Intercept Ltd, Andover, UK

    Google Scholar 

  • Kerhoas C, Knox RB and Dumas C (1983) Specificity of the callose response in stigmas of Brassica. Annals Bot 52: 597-602

    Google Scholar 

  • Li J, Zingen-Sell I and Buchenauer H (1996) Induction of resistance of cotton plants to Verticillium wilt and of tomato to Fusarium wilt by 3-aminobutyric acid and methyl jasmonate. J Plant Dis Plant Prot 103: 288-299

    Google Scholar 

  • Namai T, Kato T, Yamaguchi Y and Hirukuwa T (1993) Anti-rice blast activity and resistance induction of C-18 oxygenated fatty acids. Biosci Biotech Biochem 57: 611-613

    Google Scholar 

  • Oka Y, Cohen Y and Spiegel Y (1999) Local and systemic induced resistance to the root-knot nematode in tomato by DL-β-amino-n-butyric acid. Phytopathology 89: 1138-1143

    Google Scholar 

  • Papavizas GC (1964) Greenhouse control of Aphanomyces root rot of peas with aminobutyric acid and methylaspartic acid. Plant Dis Rep 48: 537-541

    Google Scholar 

  • Papavizas GC and Davey CB (1963) Effect of amino compounds and related substances lacking sulfur on Aphanomyces root rot of peas. Phytopathology 53: 116-122

    Google Scholar 

  • Pieterse CMJ and Van Loon LC (1999) Salicylic acid-independent plant defense pathways. Trends Plant Sci 4: 52-58

    Google Scholar 

  • Rentsch D, Laoi M, Rouhara I, Schmelzer E, Delrot S and Frommer WB (1995) NTR1 encodes a high affinity oligopeptide transporter in Arabidopsis. FEBS Lett 370: 264-268

    Google Scholar 

  • Reuveni R, Agapov V and Reuveni M (1994) Foliar spray of phosphates induces growth increase and systemic resistance to Puccinia sorghi in maize. Plant Pathol 43: 245-250

    Google Scholar 

  • Ricci P and Pernollet JC (1989) Structure and activity of proteins from pathogenic fungi Phytophthora eliciting necrosis and acquired resistance in tobacco. Eur J Biochem 183: 555-563

    Google Scholar 

  • Schneider S and Ullrich WR (1994) Differential induction of resistance and enhanced enzyme activities in cucumber and tobacco caused by treatment with various abiotic and biotic inducers. Physiol Mol Plant Pathol 45: 291-304

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmieden V and Betz H (1995) Pharmacology of the inhibitory glycine receptor: agonist and antagonist actions of amino acids and piperidine carboxylic acid compounds. Mol Pharmacol 48: 919-927

    Google Scholar 

  • Sekizawa Y and Mase S (1980) Recent progress in studies on non-fungicidal controlling agent Propenazole, with reference to the induced resistance mechanism of rice plant. Rev Plant Protect Res 13: 114-121

    Google Scholar 

  • Shelp BJ, Bown AW and McLean MD (1999) Metabolism and function of gamma-aminobutyric acid. Trends Plant Science 4: 446-452

    Google Scholar 

  • Siegrist J, Orober M and Buchenauer H (2000) β-Aminobutyric acid-mediated enhancement of resistance in tobacco to tobacco mosaic virus depends on the accumulation of salicylic acid. Physiol Mol Plant Pathol 56: 95-106

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh A and Paollillo DJ (1990) Role of calcium in the callose response of self-pollinated Brassica stigmas. Amer J Bot 77: 128-133

    Google Scholar 

  • Sticher L, Mauch-Mani B and Métraux JP (1997) Systemic acquired resistance. Ann Rev Phytopathol 35: 235-270

    Google Scholar 

  • Strobel NE, Ji C, Gopalan S, Kuc JA and He SY (1996) Induction of systemic acquired resistance in cucumber by Pseudomonas syringae pv syringae 61 HrpZ(Pss) protein. Plant J 9: 431-439

    Google Scholar 

  • Sunwoo JY, Lee YK and Hwang BK (1996) Induced resistance against Phytophthora capsici in pepper plants in response to DL-β-amino-n-butyric acid. Eur J Plant Pathol 102: 663-670

    Google Scholar 

  • Tosi L, Luigetti R and Zazzerini A (1999) Induced resistance against Plasmopara helianthi in sunflower plants by DL-β-amino-n-butyric acid. J Phytopathol 146: 295-299

    Google Scholar 

  • Vasanthi NS(2000) Chemical inducers of systemic acquired resistance in pearl millet against downy mildew disease. In: First International Symposium on Induced resistance to plant diseases, Island of Corfu, Greece, 22-27 May 2000 (Abstract)

  • Vogt W and Buchenauer H (1997) Enhancement of biological control by combination of antagonistic fluorescent Pseudomonas strains and resistance inducers against damping off and powdery mildew in cucumber. J Plant Dis Plant Protect 104: 272-280

    Google Scholar 

  • Walters DR and Murray DC (1992) Induction of systemic resistance to rust in Vicia faba by phosphate and EDTA: effects of calcium. Plant Pathol 41: 444-448

    Google Scholar 

  • Ward ER, Uknes SJ, Williams SC, Dincher SS, Wiederhold DL, Alexander DC, Ahl-Goy P, Métraux JP and Ryals JA (1991) Coordinate gene activity in response to agents that induce systemic acquired resistance. Plant Cell 3: 1085-1094

    Google Scholar 

  • Watanabe T, Igarashi H, Matsumoto K, Seki S, Mase R and Sekizawa Y (1977) The characteristics of propenazole (Oryzemate) in the control of rice blast. J Pesticide Science 2: 291-296

    Google Scholar 

  • Yu LM (1995) Elicitins from Phytophthora and basic resistance in tobacco. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 92: 4088-4094

    Google Scholar 

  • Zimmerli L, Jakab G, M´etraux JP and Mauch-Mani B (2000) Potentiation of pathogen-specific defense mechanisms in Arabidopsis by beta-aminobutyric acid. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 97: 12920-12925

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Plant Unit, University of Fribourg, Pérolles, CH-1700, Fribourg, Switzerland

    Gabor Jakab, Valérie Cottier, Valérie Toquin, Ghislaine Rigoli, Laurent Zimmerli & Jean-Pierre Métraux

  2. Department of Biology, Plant Unit, University of Fribourg, Pérolles, CH-1700, Fribourg, Switzerland

    Brigitte Mauch-Mani

Authors
  1. Gabor Jakab
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Valérie Cottier
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Valérie Toquin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ghislaine Rigoli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Laurent Zimmerli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Jean-Pierre Métraux
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Brigitte Mauch-Mani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Brigitte Mauch-Mani.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Jakab, G., Cottier, V., Toquin, V. et al. β-Aminobutyric Acid-induced Resistance in Plants. European Journal of Plant Pathology 107, 29–37 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008730721037

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008730721037

Search

Navigation