Treatment of groundnut leaves with salicylic acid controls the development of rust disease caused by Puccinia arachidis Speg.

Prior treatment of groundnut leaves with salicylic acid:showed reduction in the number of rust pustules, uredospores/pustule and delay in the development of rust disease. New polypeptides appeared in the intercellular space of groundnut leaves treated with salicylic acid. Enzyme activity staining on PAGE and western blot analysis showed anew isoform of glucanase in treatment groundnut leaves. Enhanced activities of intercellular chitinase and glucanase of treated leaves may be associated with induced resistance responses in groundnut plants against rust disease.