Arachidonic and Linoleic Acids Elicit Isoflavonoid Phytoalexin Accumulation in Phaseolus vulgaris (French bean)

Arachidonic and linoleic, but not α-linolenic or γ-linolenic acids, induced necrosis and the accumulation of isoflavonoid phytoalexins in leaves of French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cv. ‘Red Mexican'. The levels of phytoalexins which accumulated were similar to those found in an incompatible interaction between cv. ‘Red Mexican’and an avirulent race 1 isolate of Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola. Maximum amounts of phytoalexins accumulated in response to 1.6 mM fattyacids, as opposed to 3.3 or 0.6 mM. The most severe tissue necrosis was not accompanied by the highest levels of phytoalexin accumulation. In contrast to leaves, only trace amounts of phytoalexins were elicited in hypocotyls. The possible significance of, these results is discussed in terms of mechanisms leading to plant cell death and phytoalexin accumulation.