Increase of ß-1, 3-glucanase and chitinase activities in cotton callus cells treated by salicylic acid and toxin of Verticillium dahliae

The different resistance of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cultivars to crude toxin of Verticillium dah/iae(VD) was correlated with the activities of chitinase and β-1, 3-glucanase in callus cells. The activities of chitinase and β-1, 3-glucanase in the callus cells treated with the VD-toxin were increased to the higher level at earlier time point in resistant cultivars than these in the susceptible cultivars. Exogenous salicylic acid (SA) induced the accumulation of chitinase and β -1,3-glucanase, which resulted in the resistance of callus cells to the VD. toxin. Western blot using a polyclonal antibody against β -1,3-glucanase identified 28 kD protein that was induced by VD-toxin, SA, or VD-toxin plus SA.