Induction of Immune Response in Arabidopsis thaliana Treated with Phytopathogen Filtrates

We address the application of phytopathogen filtrates to induce an immune response on plants that may protect them from disease. We exposed Arabidopsis thaliana plants to filtrates of necrotrophic and biotrophic phytopathogens and evaluated whether these triggered an immune response correspondent to each pathogen’s infection pathway. We show that filtrates induce a systemic immune response on plants, but this was not specific to the infection type of phytopathogens. When facing a real infection, however, the filtrates enhanced the immune response compared to the control plants. Moreover, the filtrates increased plant growth by acting either as fertilizers or chemical inducers. Our study demonstrates the biotechnological potential of phytopathogen filtrates.