Histological Detection of Phytoalexin Scoparone from Heat-Treated and UV-Illuminated Lemon Fruits After Inoculation with Penicillium digitatum

Phytoalexin scoparone (6,7-dimethoxycoumarin) was induced in flavedo tissue of lemon fruit inoculated with Penicillium digitatum during heat treatment for 3 days at $36^{\circ}$. The compound was also induced in the flavedo tissue after UV illuminatiion. Induction of scoparone was deteected in the flavedo tissue by histological analysis. This fluorescent scoparone accumulated only on the 4-5 layers of cells adjacent to the inoculation site. Preinoculation with P. digitatum and subsequent heat-treatment induced resistance in the lemon fruit tissues after challenge-inoculation at the site of the first infection. the data obtained in the study suggest that lemon fruit acquired resistance against P. digitatum parallel with the scoparone production at the infection site.