Plant Pathogen Resistance

Abstract

Azelaic acid or its derivatives or analogs induce a robust and a speedier defense response against pathogens in plants. Azelaic acid treatment alone does not induce many of the known defense-related genes but activates a plant's defense signaling upon pathogen exposure.

1 . A method of increasing resistance to a plant pathogen in a plant, the method comprising:
 (a) obtaining a composition comprising an effective amount of azelaic acid or an azelaic acid derivative; and   (b) contacting a component of the plant with the composition to increase resistance to the pathogen in the plant.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pathogen is selected from bacterial, fungal, oomycete, and viral plant pathogens. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plant is a monocot. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plant is a crop plant. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plant is an ornamental plant. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the azelaic acid is in a concentration range of about 0.01 mM to 10 mM. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the effective amount of azelaic acid is 1 mM. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the component of the plant is selected from the group consisting of leaves, roots, stems, fruits, flowers, and seeds. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is administered in combination with a plant nutrient. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is contacted in the presence of light. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the azelaic acid derivative is water-soluble. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the azelaic acid derivative is selected from the group consisting of sodium azelate, potassium azelate, and azelaic acid esters. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises a wetting agent. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises an agent to induce a defense mechanism that depends on salicylic acid or ethylene or jasmonic acid or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the agent is selected from the group consisting of salicylic acid agonists, reactive oxygen species, benzothiazole, jasmonic acid, and ethylene or a derivative thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is a plant exudate. 
     
     
         17 . A method of priming a plant to induce resistance response against a pathogen, the method comprising:
 (a) obtaining a composition comprising an effective amount of azelaic acid or a derivative thereof; and   (b) contacting a plant component with the composition to prime the plant to induce its resistance response against a pathogen attack.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the plant component is plant foliage. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the resistance response is systemic acquired resistance. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the composition is administered prior to a pathogen attack. 
     
     
         21 . A plant defense-inducing composition comprising an effective amount of azelaic acid or a derivative thereof and a plant nutrient. 
     
     
         22 . The composition of  claim 20  comprising a wetting agent.