Deciphering tomato defense after induction of resistance towards a biotrophic, a hemibiotrophic and a necrotrophic pathogen

Abstract: In this paper we describe our strategy to unravel the connection between plant defenses and plant resistance to pests. With tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) as the reference plant, our ambition is to screen different plant defense stimulators (SPD) and measure (i) the resulting protection level towards Phytophthora parasitica, Botrytis cinerea and Oidium neolycopersici (ii) the genes involved in the corresponding defense mechanisms (iii) the proteins and secondary metabolites which could be effector of resistance. We already show that BABA induces a strong resistance to P. parasitica (100% protection, no symptoms). Conversely, SA does not protect tomato to P. parasitica infection even though some classical defense genes are highly up-regulated in the same manner after BABA and SA treatments. Preliminary results of RNA-Seq evidence that the expression of more than 1000 genes is modified by BABA treatment. The possible involvement of unreported functions is discussed.