The different resistance of cotton (
Gossypium hirsutum
L.) cultivars to crude toxin of
Verticillium dahliae
(VD) was correlated with the activities of chitinase and β-1, 3-glucanase in callus cells. The activities of chitinase and β-1, 3-glucanase in the callus cells treated with the VD-toxin were increased to the higher level at earlier time point in resistant cultivars than these in the susceptible cultivars. Exogenous salicylic acid (SA)induced the accumulation of chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase, which resulted in the resistance of callus cells to the VD. toxin. Western blot using a polyclonal antibody against β-1,3-glucanase identified 28 kD protein that was induced by VD-toxin, SA, or VD-toxin plus SA.
