Airborne signalling by methyl salicylate in plant pathogen resistance

Vladimir Shulaev, Paul Silverman and Ilya Raskin
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Vladimir Shulaev: Rutgers University
Paul Silverman: Rutgers University
Ilya Raskin: Rutgers University

Nature, 1997, vol. 385, issue 6618, 718-721

Abstract: Abstract Methyl salicylate, a volatile liquid, also known as oil of winter-green, is made by a number of plants1–9. Here we show that methyl salicylate is a major volatile compound produced by tobacco plants inoculated with tobacco mosaic virus. Methyl salicylate is synthesized from salicylic acid, a non-volatile chemical signal required for the establishment of acquired resistance10 and local and systemic induction of antimicrobial pathogenesis-related proteins11. Methyl salicylate acts by being converted back to salicyclic acid. We conclude that methyl salicylate may function as an airborne signal which acitvates disease resistance and the expression of defence-related genes in neighbouring plants and in the healthy tissues of the infected plant.

Date: 1997
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DOI: 10.1038/385718a0

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