Nonspecific phytoalexin induction

The compound for which the best biochemical evidence has been reported for sensitization of host plant response to pathogens, rather than direct or indirect fungitoxicity or nonspecific phytoalexin induction, is 2,2-d ich 1 oro-3,3-d ime thy lcyc 1 opropane carboxylic acid (108-110). Neither the compound nor any of its metabolites generated after treatment of rice plants are directly inhibitory to the rice blast fungus, Piricularia oryzae. Constitutive phytoalexin production was not induced in rice by the cyclopropane derivative. However, infection of plants treated with the compound results in rapid localized cell death, me lanization, and production of the phytoalexins, momilactones A and B. 

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