β-1,3-glucanase and chitinase activities in winter triticales during cold hardening and subsequent infection by Microdochium nivale

The accumulation of pathogenesis-related proteins such as beta-1,3-glucanases and chitinases was studied in cold induced snow mould resistance in two Polish cultivars of winter triticale, cv. Hewo and cv. Magnat that substantially differ in resistance to Microdochium nivale. The plants were pre-hardened at 12 degrees C for 10 days and hardened at 4 degrees C for 28 days. Subsequently, cold hardened plants were inoculated with fungal mycelium (M. nivale) and incubated at 4 degrees C for 7 days in dark. Cold acclimatisation resulted in suppression of the total glucanase and chitinases activities in the resistant Hewo as well as sensitive Magnat cultivars that possibly coincides with altered metabolism. However, upon infection with M. nivale the chitinases were markedly induced in the cv. Hewo. At the same time, total beta-1,3 glucanases activities did not seem to be affected by fungus in any of the tested triticale cultivars. The pattern and/or the activity of chitinases in plants might be indicative for the resistance/susceptibility against M. nivale.