Chitosan and chitosan nanoparticles induced expression of pathogenesis-related proteins genes enhances biotic stress tolerance in tomato

The aim of this work was to evaluate the possibility of control of wilt disease caused by Fusarium andiyazi through chitosan (CS) and chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs). In the present study, the expression pattern of pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins genes such as PR-1, PR-2 (β-1,3-glucanase), PR-8 (chitinase), and PR-10 was analyzed using real-time RT-PCR. In vitro studies showed that among different concentrations (0.1–5.0 mg/ml), 5.0 mg/ml concentration of CS and CNPs produced maximum inhibition of radial mycelial growth, 54.8% and 73.81%, respectively. Also, upregulated expression of β-1,3-glucanase, chitinase, PR-1 and PR-10 genes were recorded with 1.48, 1.15, 1.15, and 1.41, fold expression in 24 hpi, respectively, in plants inoculated with CNPs. The most significant up-regulation was observed in transcript profile of SOD that showed 4.5-foldexpression, at 48 hpi. Therefore, our results confirmed that CS and CNPs induced up-regulation of PR-proteins and antioxidant genes might play a significant role for successful biocontrol. •Chitosan and chitosan nanoparticles showed antifungal activities against phytopathogenic fungi, Fusarium andiyazi.•Antifungal activity of chitosan nanoparticles was higher than the chitosan.•Chitinases and β-1,3-glucanases genes were up-regulated by 1.15 and 1.48-fold, respectively.•The most significant up-regulation (4.5 fold) was observed in transcript profile of SOD.