Elicitation of soluble phenolics in date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) callus by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp albedinis culture medium

A system using callus cultures from two cultivars of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera), resistant (BSTN) and susceptible (JHL) to 'Bayoud disease', caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. albedinis (Foa), was established as a suitable system for this host-pathogen interaction study. De novo accumulation of phenolic compounds occurred in date palm callus in response to elicitation with filtrates from Foa cultures. Based on their chemical characteristics, most of these compounds were shown to be hydroxycinnamic derivatives. Besides, an increase was recorded in the concentration and the degree of polymerization of flavans. All of these reactions were greater in the resistant than the susceptible cultivars of date palm, which indicates a possible role of phenolic compounds in the resistance to the Bayoud disease. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.