Induction of Chitinase and Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase in Cultured Carrot Cells Treated with Fungal Mycelial Walls

Addition of insoluble mycelial walls of a fungus, Chaetomium globosum, stimulated the induction of chitinase and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), as well as the accumulation of phenolic acids in cultured carrot cells. Mycelial wall fragments solubilized by chitinase treatment also elicited accumulation of phenolic acids. The induction of chitinase and PAL were highly dependent on the age of the carrot cell cultures, as are other defense responses, including phytoalexin production.