Response of apple (Malus domestica) cell suspension cultures cv. Alkmene on elicitation with biotic elicitors

The infection of apple tissues by the fungus Venturia inaequalis, which causes the scab disease, induces an accumulation of phenolic compounds in the adjacent cells (Mayr et al. 1997). In order to mimic the activity of the fungus, plant cell suspension cultures of the apple cultivar 'Alkmene' were treated with cellulases, pectinases and other possible elicitors derived from the cell wall. This resulted in marked changes in the phenol contents in the cell cultures used. Thus, the participation of these enzymes in triggering the elicitor response of apple to Venturia inaequalis seems likely. The response of the cells, however, was influenced by many different factors, including elicitor concentration, the composition of the medium, cell line, growth stage, and growth behaviour of the cell cultures.