Role of ethylene and Actigard in defense against the gray mold pathogen Botrytis cinerea
Author: Henrik Stotz
Published: 2005
Summary: Our main objective was to determine whether Actigard, an inducer of systemic acquired resistance (SAR), or ethylene can be used to manage postharvest Botrytis cinerea decay. Specifically, pears were treated with the ethylene agonist propylene, the ethylene action inhibitor 1- methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), and/or the 1-aminocycolopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) synthase inhibitor aminoethoxyvinyl glycine (AVG) to alter ethylene biosynthesis and fruit ripening. Alternatively, Actigard containing 1,2,3-benzothiadiazole-7-carbothioic acid S-methyl ester (BTH) as the active ingredient was used to trigger SAR. As a result of these treatments, we expected differences in Botrytis susceptibility. Our rationale was that, once the effects of these treatments on gray mold decay were known, they could be implemented to control postharvest decay.
