Plastoquinone: possible involvement in plant disease resistance.

Authors:
  • LPLidia Polkowska-Kowalczyk
    Lidia Polkowska-Kowalczyk
  • ESEwa Swiezewska
    Ewa Swiezewska
  • ASAnna Szkopinska
    Anna Szkopinska
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Abstract
The plant Solanum nigrum treated with the pathogen Phytophthora infestans-derived elicitor responded by elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, lipid peroxidation and lipoxygenase (EC 1.13.11.12) activity in comparison with control plants indicating that oxidative stress took place. We demonstrate that these events are accompanied by a significant increase in plastoquinone (PQ) level. It is postulated that PQ may be associated with mechanisms maintaining a tightly controlled balance between the accumulation of ROS and antioxidant activity that determines the full expression of effective defence.