This study aimed to partially purify the compounds present in decoction of Adiantum capillus-veneris, which are efficient in the induction of phytoalexins in sorghum mesocotyl, by ammonium sulphate (AS) fractionation and gel filtration chromatography (GFC). The decoction of A. capillus-veneris at 1% (weight/volume) was precipitated with AS at the concentration of 0-20%, 20-40%, 40-60%, 60-80% and 80-100%, and these fractions were subjected to GFC. For the decoction not precipitated with AS, nine protein peaks and one carbohydrate peak were obtained with molecular weights ranging from 0.61 to 0.01 KDa. For the AS precipitation, we obtained: for the fraction 0-20%, two protein peaks (0.01 KDa) and two carbohydrate peaks with concentration of sugars ranging from 4.1 to 17.5 µg of sugar mL-1; for the 20-40%, three protein peaks (0.98 to 111.5 KDa) and five carbohydrate peaks (11.3 to 73.7 µg sugar mL-1); for the 40-60%, two protein peaks (0.09 to 111.5 KDa) and two carbohydrate peaks (5.6 to 7.5 µg of sugar mL-1); for the 60-80%, six protein peaks (lower than 0.02 KDa) and two carbohydrate peaks (16.5 to 51.3 µg of sugar mL-1); and for the 80-100%, three protein peaks with molecular weight equivalent to 0.09 KDa. The sorghum mesocotyls were treated with GFC fractions, decoction (1%), acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM) (125 mg L-1 a.i. as elicitor reference) and sodium phosphate buffer (10 mM, pH 6.0). The protein peak II (0.09 KDa) from the decoction not precipitated was effective in inducing phytoalexin, exceeding in 6.68% the ASM. Among the fractions, the one with 60-80% of AS increased in 76% the induction of phytoalexin compared to ASM. According to the results, we could obtain protein and/or carbohydrate fractions capable of inducing phytoalexins in sorghum better than the decoction from which they are derived from, showing the potential of these molecules for future research studies on the induction of resistance.
induction of resistance; Adiantum capillus-veneris; deoxyanthocyanidins
