Hypericum perforatum cultures as a tool to study plant defence mechanisms against anthracnose (colletotrichum gloeosporioides)

Abstract

To elucidate the defence mechanisms of Hypericum perforatum L. against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, we utilized cell suspension cultures. When primed with methyl jasmonate, H. perforatum cells showed a double oxidative burst upon Colletotrichum gloeosporioides elicitation typical of a hypersensitive response. Phenolic profile of the cells was modified upon various stimuli such as salicylic acid, MeJ and C. gloeosporioides. The possible importance of reactive oxygen species production and phenolics (xanthones) as components of defence mechanism of H. perforatum against biotic stress is discussed.