Natural elicitors induce plant resistance against a broad spectrum of diseases, and are\ncurrently among the most promising biocontrol tools. The present study focuses on the elicitor\nproperties of the cyclic lipopeptide surfactin on wheat, in order to stimulate the defenses of this\nmajor crop against the challenging fungal pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici. The protection efficacy of\nsurfactin extracted from the strain Bacillus amyloliquefaciens S499 was investigated through greenhouse\ntrials. Surfactin protected wheat by 70% against Z. tritici, similarly to the chemical reference elicitor\nBionÃ?®50WG. In vitro biocidal assays revealed no antifungal activities of surfactin towards the\npathogen. A biomolecular RT-qPCR based low-density microarray tool was used to study the relative\nexpression of 23 wheat defense genes. Surfactin significantly induced wheat natural defenses by\nstimulating both salicylic acid- and jasmonic acid-dependent signaling pathways. Surfactin was\nsuccessfully tested as an elicitor on the pathosystem wheatââ?¬â??Z. tritici. These results promote further\nsustainable agricultural practices and the reduction of chemical inputs.
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