Abstract
Control of gray mold disease (Botrytis cinerea) and change of endogenous plant hormones,
ethylene, jasmonic acid (JA), and abscisic acid (ABA) in peach (Prunus persica L. Batsch
‘Akatsuki’) treated with n-Propyl dihydrojasmonate (PDJ) were investigated. Peaches were
compared between non-PDJ dipping (control) and 400 µM-PDJ dipping before inoculation
with B. cinerea conidial suspension stored at 25°C for 6 days. The results showed that
PDJ application significantly decreased (P < 0.05) disease symptoms and lesion diameter,
meanwhile, this application induced the accumulation of ethylene production, JA, and
ABA concentration. The upstream expression level of PpACS1 (1-aminocyclo-propane-
1-carboxylic acid synthase) and PpAOS (allene oxide synthase) genes in PDJ application were
significantly higher in the peaches inoculated with B. cinerea than the control. In contrast, PDJ
application decreased ester and lactone compounds which are the major volatile
compound of peach. However, alcohol and aldehyde compounds were increased by
the PDJ application. These results suggested that PDJ application delayed the infection of
B. cinerea through accumulation of ethylene, endogenous JA, and ABA in peach.
