Statistical Analysis of the Relationship Between the Parameters Related to Potato Resistance to Viral Infection during Treatment with Chitosan Conjugate with Caffeic Acid and Bacillus subtilis

The correlation of changes in productivity parameters, the degree of infection with the pathogen, the activity of RNases, hydrolases and their inhibitors, the level of expression of PR protein genes and the proteome in potato plants during treatment with chitosan-caffeic acid conjugate, Bacillus subtilis and infection with the potato virus Y was studied. A high correlation was shown between the degree of infection and the expression level of the PR-3, PR-5, PR-10 and methyltransferase genes, as well as with the content of 50S ribosomal protein L4, 2-methylene-furan-3-one reductase and oxygen-evolving enhancer protein 2 in plants. The correlation of changes in protein content with the activity of neutral and alkaline proteases was revealed; the activity of acidic proteases correlated positively with the cellulase activity and negatively with the content of 20 kDa chaperonin and dehydroascorbate reductase in leaves; the amylase activity varied in accordance with the expression levels of the PR-1 and PR-9 genes. A significant part of the studied parameters correlated either with the level of infection or with plant productivity indicators, forming two independent groups of parameters. The virus infection degree correlated mainly with the expression of PR protein genes and the content of oxidative burst proteins. Another group of related parameters correlating with productivity indicators (percentage of dry matter, starch and protein content in tubers) included proteins associated with the synthesis and metabolism of proteins and starch. In all infected plants treated with the studied preparations, there was a change in the content of proteases and their inhibitors, cellulases, 20 kDa chaperonin, as well as stem loop binding protein, a decrease in the synthesis of which is presumably a manifestation of the plant’s protective reactions aimed at suppressing the virus development.