CHANGES IN EXPRESSION OF PATHOGENESIS-RELATED GENE 1, PATHOGENESIS-RELATED GENE 2, PHENYLALANINE AMMONIA-LYASE AND CATALASE IN TOMATO IN RESPONSE TO PECTOBACTERIUM CAROTOVORUM SUBSP. CAROTOVORUM

Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum (Pcc) is one of the most destructive pathogens causing stem rot disease on tomato. In this study, expression profiling of pathogenesis-related gene 1 (PR-1), pathogenesis-related gene 2 (PR-2), phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and catalase (CAT) in a partially resistant (Sun) and a susceptible (Early orbano) tomato cultivar in response to Pcc were compared. Our results showed more expression of PR-2, PAL and CAT in the partially resistant cultivar than the susceptible cultivar. On the other hand, no significant difference was found in expression of PR-1 between the both cultivars. These findings suggest the involvement of PR-2, PAL and CAT in defense responses of tomato against Pcc that might be considered in plant breeding programs.