Effect of Heat Shock on the mRNA-Directed Disease Resistance Response of Peas

Abstract
Pea tissue heat shocked for 2 h at 40.degree. C accumulates mRNA that code for a series of new proteins called heat shock proteins. A different mRNA population, which codes for a high level of 20 or more resistance proteins, accumulates in pea tissue as it resists plant pathogenic fungi. Heat shock treatment applied prior to fungal inoculation prevents the high level accumulation of mRNA coding for the 20 resistance proteins and blocks disease resistance. If the resistance response is initiated before the heat shock treatment or after heat shock recovery, mRNA accumulates for the resistance proteins and disease resistance develops.