Effect of 1-methylascorbigen on the resistance potential of plants to pathogens

We have studied the effect of 1'-methylascorbigen, an immunostimulating substance in animal systems on the resistance potential of barley, bean and wheat plants to the fungal pathogens Erysiphe graminis, Uromyces phaseoli and Puccinia recondita, respectively. The effectiveness of protection depends - as in the case of other endogenous, N-methylated compounds - on the dosage of applied 1'-methylascorbigen and on the time interval between the chemical pretreatment and inoculation. The time- and dose-dependent double immune response was clearly demonstrated in case of the barley - Erysiphe graminis and bean - Uromyces phaseoli host-parasite relationships while in case of the wheat -Puccinia recondita relationship the relatively long-time interval between pretreatment and inoculation allowed manifestation of only a single immune response.