INDUCTION OF RESISTANCE IN CHILLI SEEDLINGS AGAINST ANTHRACNOSE DISEASE BY CRUDE CELL WALL ELICITORS FROM COLLETOTRICHUM CAPSICI ISOLATE UOM-18

Crude cell wall elicitors (CWE) extracted from avirulent strain of Colletotrichum capsici isolate UOM-18 was evaluated for the induction of systemic resistance against chilli anthracnose disease. Crude cell wall elicitors did not inhibit the growth of C. capsici under in vitro conditions. Foliar application of CWE to chilli seedlings elevated the level of Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), phenolic compound, defence related enzymes and disease protection under greenhouse conditions. In Native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) analysis, isoforms of Peroxidase (POX) and Lipoxygenase (LOX) remained unchanged, expressivity of these defense enzymes was higher in treated seedlings. Similar kind of higher expressivity of Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) was recorded in treated seedlings along with an additional isoform, PPO 2. Increased activity of defense related enzyme in treated seedlings is correlated to the decreased levels of anthracnose incidence. From the results obtained, it was confirmed that the CWE is a potential inducer of systemic resistance in chilli seedlings against C. capsici infection.