Induction of Systemic Resistance in Pea to Pea Powdery Mildew by Exogenous Application of Salicylic Acid

Exogenous application of salicylic acid (SA) solutions to pea leaves induced systemic resistance to Erysiphe pisi. reducing by 20–30% the percentages of fungal germlings that successfully infected untreated leaves of SA-treated plants. SA concentrations of 1.5 and 15 mM were similarly effective, but 0.15 mM had no detectable effect. While 15 mM SA solutions were phytotoxic. 1.5 mM solutions caused no apparent damage indicating that resistance induction was not due to tissue damage. The induced resistance persisted for at least 13 days after treatment, but excision of treated leaves 1 day after SA application prevented full induction of systemic resistance, and the resistance was not expressed if untreated leaves were inoculated fewer than 3 days after SA application. The effect of SA was transmitted to leaves at nodes both above and below treated leaves. Chemical induction of systemic resistance may provide an additional means for controlling pea diseases.