Changes in lipid composition of Blumeria graminis f.sp. tritici conidia produced on wheat leaves treated with heptanoyl salicylic acid

Treatment of wheat leaves with heptanoyl salicylic acid (HS) and trehalose at concentrations of 0.1 and 15 g l(-1), prior to fungal inoculation, resulted in 40% and 60% protection, respectively, against powdery mildew. The total lipid composition of Blumeria graminis f.sp. tritici (Bgt) conidia, the causal agent of wheat powdery mildew, was compared when produced on wheat leaves, respectively, untreated and treated with the two elicitors, HS and trehalose. An obvious effect was observed on lipid composition (sterol and fatty acid (FA)) of Bgt conidia produced on wheat leaves treated with HS. A total of 16 FA (C12-C24 saturated and unsaturated) as well as unusual methoxylated Fatty Acids (mFA) (3-methoxydocosanoic and 3-methoxytetracosanoic acids) were detected in the conidia. Medium chain FA were predominant in HS treated conidia (64.65%) while long chain fatty acids constituted the major compounds in untreated conidia (62%). The long chain/medium chain FA ratio decreased from 1.8 in the conidia produced on untreated leaves to 0.5 in the conidia obtained from HS treated leaves. When comparing the sterol composition of Bgt conidia produced on leaves treated with HS versus conidia obtained from untreated ones, very important changes within the two major classes can be seen. In particular, 24-methylsterols, e.g., 24-methylenecholesterol and 24-methylcholesta-7,24-dien were reduced by about 82% whereas 24-ethylsterols, e.g., 24-ethylcholesterol and 24-ethylcholesta-5,22-dienol were increased by about 85%. The 24-methylsterols/24-ethylsterols ratio was reduced by ninefold in the conidia produced from HS treated leaves.