Hypersensitive reaction and P/HRGP accumulation is modulated by nitric oxide through hydrogen peroxide in pearl millet during Sclerospora graminicola infection

Priming of pearl millet seedlings with nitric oxide (NO) donors sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and S-nitrosoglutathione (SNOG) induced hypersensitive reactions (HR) and accumulation of Proline/Hydroxyproline-rich glycoprotein (P/HRGP) during infection by downy mildew pathogen Sclerospora graminicola. Such defense responses were specifically altered by concentration of NO donors resulting in the modulation of endogenous NO in seedling tissues. The stoichiometric interactions of NO and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) when followed in relation to HR and P/HRGP accumulation, the degree of defense response varied with H₂O₂ level, the latter being largely influenced by NO concentration. Therefore, balancing NO and H₂O₂ is vital for optimum expression of defense responses for imparting disease resistance.     

Signals induced by exogenous nitric oxide and their role in controlling brown rot disease caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Monilinia fructicola</Emphasis> in postharvest peach fruit

Recent evidence suggests that nitric oxide (NO) signaling plays an important role in plant–pathogen interactions and that aconitase is a major target of NO. In the present study on the signaling role of NO in the elicitation of defense responses in peach fruit against Monilinia fructicola and subsequent effect on brown rot disease, 15 μM NO solution induced disease resistance in harvested peaches. As a potentiated elicitor, NO induced high levels of endogenous NO and superoxide (O₂ ^?), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), and NADPH oxidase and Ca²⁺-ATPase activity in the fruit. Aconitase activity in peach fruit was inhibited by NO. Activity of partially purified aconitase was inhibited in vitro by sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and H₂O₂; however, the inhibition could be relieved by carboxy-2-phenyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl 3-oxide (cPTIO) or catalase (CAT), indicating that the defense response and signals induced by NO transduction depend on aconitase and conditions leading to elevated levels of NO; otherwise, H₂O₂ would inactivate aconitase directly in fruit. Treatment with NO resulted in salicylic acid (SA) accumulating during storage. Higher levels of jasmonic acid (JA) were detected in NO-treated fruit 48 h after the treatment. But after NO was removed, the level of SA and JA were lower than in the control. The results suggest that exogenous NO enhances resistance of harvested peach fruit against the fungus by inducing signals such as endogenous NO, reactive oxygen species (ROS), SA and JA and by inhibiting aconitase activity.     

Nitric oxide reduces oxidative stress generated by lactofen in soybean plants

Nitric oxide (NO) is a molecule able to directly scavenge ROS and end chain reactions, which can be generated by some herbicides. This study aimed to evaluate whether the pretreatment of soybean plants with sodium nitroprusside (SNP) solution, a NO-donor substance, provides protection against oxidative stress generated by lactofen. Soybean plants were pretreated with SNP before lactofen application. The levels of lipoperoxides and photosynthetic pigments were quantified, and the activity of the antioxidant enzymes glutathione S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD) was assessed. Although lipid peroxidation was not completely prevented, NO was able to scavenge ROS generated by the lactofen action, avoiding the photosynthetic pigment breakdown. Consequently, ROS scavenging by NO leads to a decrease in the available substrate for the antioxidant enzymes SOD, CAT, and POD, which are essential to protect plants under oxidative stress situations such as absence of GST induction by H₂O₂.     

Roles of reactive oxygen species in interactions between plants and pathogens

The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by the consumption of molecular oxygen during host–pathogen interactions is termed the oxidative burst. The most important ROS are singlet oxygen (¹O₂), the hydroxyperoxyl radical (HO₂·), the superoxide anion , hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), the hydroxyl radical (OH^-) and the closely related reactive nitrogen species, nitric oxide (NO). These ROS are highly reactive, and therefore toxic, and participate in several important processes related to defence and infection. Furthermore, ROS also play important roles in plant biology both as toxic by-products of aerobic metabolism and as key regulators of growth, development and defence pathways. In this review, we will assess the different roles of ROS in host–pathogen interactions with special emphasis on fungal and Oomycete pathogens.     

The Oxidants and Antioxidant Enzymes in Tomato Leaves Treated With O-Hydroxyethylorutin and Infected with Botrytis cinerea

Application of o-hydroxyethylorutin restricted the development of Botrytis cinerea in tomato leaves. Superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide generation rates and changes in superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and catalase activities were studied in uninfected tomato plants, in plants infected with B. cinerea, and in plants treated with o-hydroxyethylorutin and infected with pathogen. About two times higher hydrogen peroxide concentration were found in plants treated with o-hydroxyethylorutin and infected with the pathogen at the early infection stages compared with untreated infected plants. In vitro tests showed that germination of B. cinerea conidia was significantly inhibited by H₂O₂. Higher H₂O₂ concentrations were needed to inhibit mycelial growth. The results indicate that o-hydroxyethylorutin triggers hydrogen peroxide production in tomato plants and suggest that enhanced levels of H₂O₂ are involved in restricted B. cinerea infection development.     

Induction of antiviral resistance and stimulary effect by oligochitosan in tobacco

Oligochitosan was applied by spraying it on tobacco leaves for inhibition of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). The maximum inhibition of TMV by oligochitosan was observed when inoculation occurred at 24 h after spraying 50 μg ml⁻¹ oligochitosan. The production of H₂O₂ and NO in epidermal tobacco cells induced by oligochitosan was investigated by epidermal strip bioassay and LSCM, using cell permeable fluorophore diaminofluorescein diacetate (DAF-2D) and 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (H₂DCF-DA), respectively. Epidermal tobacco cells treated with oligochitosan resulted in a strong increase of intracellular NO and H₂O₂. Oligochitosan and NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) induced the defense reaction against tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), and increased phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity. Co-treatment of the tobacco cells with oligochitosan and NO scavenger CPTIO blocked the inducing resistance. The results indicated that the defense response induced by oligochitosan was connected with NO pathway.     

Induced defense dynamics in plant parts is requisite for resistance to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Helicoverpa armigera</Emphasis> (Hubner) infestation in chickpea

Helicoverpa armigera is the most serious insect pest in chickpea that causes significant yield losses due to its feeding on vegetative (leaves) and reproductive (developing pods and seeds) parts of plants. The present aim of study was to explore response dynamics of induced defence mechanism in leaves, podwall and seeds of ten chickpea genotypes (ICC 506, ICCV 10, ICC 10393, 5283, RSG 963, GL 25016, GL 26054, ICCL 86111, ICC 3137, L 550) after insect infestation. Two chickpea genotypes namely ICC 3137 and L 550 were found to be highly susceptible to Helicoverpa armigera infestation due to higher leaf and pod damage in them as compared to rest of eight genotypes which are found to be considerably resistant due to lower damage. Insect infestation induced decreased activities of defensive enzymes such as peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), glutatione reductase (GR) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO), decreased free radical scavenging activities in terms of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH), decreased contents of signaling molecules such as nitric oxide ((NO), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), reduced content of insect feeding behaviour regulating molecules such as total phenols, trypsin inhibitor and accumulation of membrane damage marker such as malondialdehyde (MDA) in leaves of ICC 3137 and L 550; decreased POD activity, nitric oxide content and H₂O₂ in podwall of L550; decreased SOD, GR, nitric oxide content and H₂O₂ in seeds of L550 resulted in aggravation of infestation induced oxidative stress and makes these genotypes more vulnerable to insect damage. The resistance of rest eight chickpea genotypes to insect infestation was due to the integrative effect of up regulated defensive components in leaves, podwall and seeds such as enhanced activities of CAT, POD, GR, PPO and PAL along with accumulation of H₂O₂` and total phenols in leaves, increased SOD, POD, GR and PPO activities along with increased contents of trypsin inhibitor and total phenols in podwall; increased SOD, GR, PPO activities and accumulated total phenols in seeds of resistant chickpea genotypes might be responsible for causing significant shift in oxidative status of these genotypes due to scavenging of free radicals, maintenance of membrane integrity and deterrent to insect feeding. Induced glycine betaine after herbivory was found to be positively correlated with superoxide dismutase and trypsin inhibitors. H₂O₂ content was positively correlated with trypsin inhibitor, DPPH, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and total phenols in leaves and with FRAP, DPPH and total phenols in pod wall indicating that H₂O₂ might be stimulating the cascade that will be helping to scavenge free radical species and correlation with phenols and trypsin inhibitor indicated that it act as toxicant to insect feeding.     

Bentazone and bromoxynil induce H and H2O2 accumulation, and inhibit photosynthetic O2 evolution in Synechococcouselongatus PCC7942

Using a unicellular cyanobacterium, Synechococcouselongatus PCC7942, we have shown that cytosolic acidification, O₂⁻; H₂O₂ production and photosystem II-inactivation are the causes of cell death from bentazone/bromoxynil incubations. Butyric acid evoked solely pH lowering response and yet inhibited PS II activity indicating that herbicide-caused acidification is sufficient to kill the cyanobacterial cells, but other factors like excess H₂O₂ production due to an imbalance in the peroxide sequestration machinery might be contributory. While the activities of superoxide dismutase and pyrogallol peroxidase increased consequent to herbicide incubations and displayed oligomeric states with mobility shift, catalase and glutathione peroxidase though present remained insensitive.     

Fasciation in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Crassula argentea</Emphasis>: molecular identification of phytoplasmas and associated antioxidative capacity

The present study reports on phytoplasma induced fasciation in Crassula argintea (Crassulaceae). DNA was extracted from symptomless and fasciated tissues and amplified by nested PCR using universal primers P1/P7 followed by R16F2n/R16R2 produced amplicons of 1.2 Kb. The nucleotide sequence analyses of the amplicons indicated that fasciated plants were infected by phytoplasma. Phylogenetic analysis placed the Crassula fasciation phytoplasmas in 16SrII-D group. Histochemical staining for reactive oxygen species indicated that phytoplasma infected (PI) tissues possess significantly higher levels of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) rather than superoxide (O₂ ^·-) as compared with symptomless tissues. PI tissues were also associated with a significant increase in antioxidant enzyme activities (catalase, peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, and glutathione reductase) and electrolyte leakage as compared with symptomless tissues.     

Nitric oxide preserves the level of chlorophyll in potato leaves infected by Phytophthora infestans

Nitric oxide (NO) is a bioactive molecule involved in many physiological processes. Among its biological function, NO has been proved to be cytotoxic against microorganisms in cells of the immune response, thus preventing infection. We have specifically studied the effect of a NO donor, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), on the chlorophyll content in potato leaves infected with the pathogenic fungus Phytophthora infestans (Pi). Fifteen days after infection, chlorophyll content strongly decayed in water-treated potato leaf sections. SNP was able to partially revert that loss in a dose-dependent manner, being the effective SNP concentrations between 10 µM and 100 µM. NaNO₂ and NaNO₃, the SNP-derived residual products, were unable to prevent the chlorophyll loss. Treatments with SNP did not affect the survival of Pi and the fungus was able to grow in a V₈-agar medium containing 100 µM SNP. Both the amount and the extent of germination of Pi sporangia resulted similar in the absence and in the presence of SNP. Respiratory inhibitors of the cyanide-sensitive and cyanide-resistant pathways, 2,4-dinitrophenol and salicylhydroxamic acid respectively, did not change the chlorophyll levels in infected potato leaves, suggesting that NO effect should not be on mitochondrial respiration. These results indicate that NO could be a protective molecule, either preserving the chloroplast membrane of infected leaf sections against the toxicity of reactive oxygen species or being directly involved in any step of the chlorophyll metabolic pathway.(both authors contributed equally to this work)     

ROS and NO production in compatible and incompatible tomato-<Emphasis Type="Italic">Meloidogyne incognita</Emphasis> interactions

Nitric oxide (NO) has been shown to be an essential regulatory molecule in plant response to pathogen infection in synergy with reactive oxygen species (ROS). At the present, nothing is known about the role of NO in disease resistance to nematode infection. We used a resistant tomato cultivar with different sensitivity to avirulent and virulent populations of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita to investigate the key components involved in oxidative and nitrosative metabolism. We analyzed the superoxide radical production, hydrogen peroxide content, and nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-like and nitrate reductase activities, as potential sources of NO. A rapid NO accumulation and ROS production were found at 12 h after infection in compatible and incompatible tomato-nematode interactions, whereas the amount of NO and ROS gave different results 24 and 48 h after infection amongst compatible and incompatible interactions. NOS-like arginine-dependent enzyme rather than nitrate reductase was the main source of NO production, and NOS-like activity increased substantially in the incompatible interaction. We can envisage a functional overlap of both NO and ROS in tomato defence response to nematode invasion, NO and H₂O₂ cooperating in triggering hypersensitive cell death. Therefore, NO and ROS are key molecules which may help to orchestrate events following nematode challenge, and which may influence the host cellular metabolism.     

Overproduction of reactive oxygen species involved in the pathogenicity of Fusarium in potato tubers

Differences in virulence between Fusarium sulphureum and Fusarium sambucinum were compared. Changes in reactive oxygen species production and metabolism in inoculated slices of potato tubers were also compared. The result showed that Fusarium infection induced significant production of ROS, lipid peroxidation and loss of cell membrane integrity, but low activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX). Compared to F. sambucinum, F. sulphureum led larger lesion diameters on potato tubers and slices. It resulted in more superoxide anion ($O_2^{-}$) and earlier peak of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), but lower activity of catalase (CAT) and APX, and accompanied with higher malondialdehyde (MDA) content and lower cell membrane integrity. These findings suggested that overproduction of ROS involved in the pathogenicity of Fusarium in potato tubers.     

Hydrogen peroxide localization and antioxidant status in the recovery of apricot plants from European Stone Fruit Yellows

Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) localization and roles of peroxidases, malondialdehyde and reduced glutathione were compared in leaves of apricot (Prunus armeniaca) plants asymptomatic, European Stone Fruits Yellows (ESFY)-symptomatic and recovered. Nested PCR analysis revealed that Candidatus Phytoplasma prunorum, is present in asymptomatic, symptomatic and recovered apricot trees, confirming previous observations on this species, in which recovery does not seem to be related to the disappearance of phytoplasma from the plant.H₂O₂was detected cytochemically by its reaction with cerium chloride, which produces electron-dense deposits of cerium perhydroxides. H₂O₂was present in the plasmalemma of the phloem cells of recovered apricot plant leaves, but not in the asymptomatic or symptomatic material. Furthermore, by labelling apricot leaf tissues with diaminobenzidine DAB, no differences were found in the localization of peroxidases.Protein content in asymptomatic, symptomatic and recovered leaves was not significantly different from one another. In contrast, guaiacol peroxidase activity had the following trend: symptomatic > recovered > asymptomatic, whereas reduced glutathione content followed the opposite trend: asymptomatic > recovered > symptomatic. Moreover, no differences were observed in malondialdehyde concentrations between asymptomatic, symptomatic and recovered leaves. The overall results suggest that H₂O₂ and related metabolites and enzymes appear to be involved in lessening both pathogen virulence and disease symptom expression in ESFY-infected apricot plants.     

Mycorrhizal protection of chili plants challenged by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phytophthora capsici</Emphasis>

Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) has been implicated in many stress conditions. Control of H₂O₂ levels is complex and dissection of mechanisms generating and relieving H₂O₂ stress is difficult, particularly in intact plants. Here the role of the mycorrhizal inoculation in chili plants challenged with Phytophthora capsici was investigated to study the effect on hypersensitive response. In the treatment without mycorrhiza (treatment T3) and with mycorrhiza (considered treatment T4) visible disorders were detected two days after inoculation with P. capsici, but in the next days T3 plants rapidly developed 25% more necrotic lesions on the leaves than T4 plants. Leaf necrosis correlated with H₂O₂ accumulation and the greater damage observed in T3 plants coincided with larger accumulation of H₂O₂ after 12 h of inoculation accompanied with an increase in POX (peroxidase) and SOD (superoxide dismutase) activity. T4-infected and mycorrhizal plants exhibited an earlier accumulation of H₂O₂ starting 6 h after inoculation with lower levels compared to T3 plants. Correlated with observed damage, POX and SOD activity measured in T4 plants indirectly suggest a smaller accumulation of ROS (reactive oxygen species) leading to a decrease in the wounds observed and slightly diminishing the advance of the pathogen. According to these findings, we conclude that mycorrhizal colonization contributes significantly in maintaining the redox balance during oxidative stress, but the exact mechanism is still uncertain.     

黄腐酸对雾培马铃薯幼苗抗旱性的影响

试验以马铃薯(Solanum tuberosum)幼苗为研究对象,采用雾培装置进行不同黄腐酸用量和干旱胁迫处理(分别为CK,不加黄腐酸和PEG; 10％ PEG;0.01％ FA+ 10％ PEG;0.03％ FA+ 10％ PEG;0.05％ FA+ 10％ PEG和0.10％ FA+ 10％ PEG),分析其对马铃薯生长发育及抗性生理的影响。结果表明,在干旱胁迫下,雾培马铃薯幼苗的成活率、叶绿素含量、膜稳定指数、根系活力、匍匐茎数、结薯率和产量呈下降趋势,而丙二醛(MDA)、过氧化氢(H₂O₂)、脯氨酸、可溶性糖含量和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性及超氧阴离子(O^-₂)产生速率呈上升趋势,过氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和过氧化物酶(POD)活性先增加后下降,说明雾培马铃薯幼苗在干旱胁迫下生长发育受到显著抑制,正在遭受逆境胁迫。经黄腐酸处理后,幼苗的成活率、匍匐茎数、结薯率和产量则得到了提高,而叶绿素含量、膜稳定指数和根系活力仍呈下降趋势,但较单一干旱胁迫的下降趋势缓慢,而MDA含量、SOD和POD活性及产生速率呈先升高后下降的趋势,脯氨酸、可溶性糖、H₂O₂含量及CAT活性呈上升趋势,其中H₂O₂含量上升趋势较单一干旱胁迫缓慢,说明黄腐酸处理后使干旱胁迫下雾培马铃薯幼苗的生长发育得到了促进,减轻了干旱胁迫对幼苗造成的伤害,提高了植株的整体抗旱性,而这种抗性与黄腐酸浓度呈明显相关性,0.05％ FA对植株的的保护效应最显著,而0.10％ FA则协同PEG加剧了对幼苗的伤害作用。     

南方根结线虫侵染对黄瓜植株生长和抗氧化系统的影响

为探明野生黄瓜对南方根结线虫的抗性机制,采用温室盆栽苗期人工接种技术,研究了线虫侵染对黄瓜抗感品种植株生长和抗氧化系统的影响。南方根结线虫的侵染显著降低了感病品种津春4号的株高、叶面积、地上部鲜重与干重及根系活力,并显著增加其根系鲜重与干重,而对抗病品种西印度瓜的各项生长指标均未造成明显影响。西印度瓜中超氧阴离子(O.2-)、过氧化氢(H2O2)、电导率和丙二醛(MDA)含量增加幅度均小于津春4号,超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性降低,过氧化物酶(POD)、苯丙氨酸解氨酶(PAL)活性增加幅度均显著高于津春4号。研究表明西印度瓜遭受的氧化胁迫较小,其抗氧化系统有效清除了氧化损伤。     

稀土钆对硝酸盐胁迫下西瓜幼苗抗氧化酶活性等生理特性的影响

采用硝酸盐[Ca(NO_3)_2]胁迫处理,研究了稀土钆[Gd_2(CO_3)_3]对嫁接西瓜幼苗生长与相关生理特性的影响。结果表明:与对照相比,Ca(NO3)2胁迫下嫁接西瓜幼苗叶片超氧阴离子(O·2)产生速率及过氧化氢(H_2O_2)、丙二醛(MDA)含量增加,膜透性增强,致使其净光合速率(Pn)、气孔导度(Gs)、胞间CO2浓度(Ci)和蒸腾速率(Tr)分别显著下降64.2%、81.6%、27.1%和71.5%,幼苗干物质积累减少38.9%,生长显著受抑。叶面喷施Gd_2(CO_3)_3可提高Ca(NO_3)_2胁迫下嫁接西瓜幼苗叶片超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)等抗氧化酶活性,降低O·2产生速率、H2O2和MDA含量及细胞膜透性,缓解Ca(NO_3)_2胁迫下Pn、Gs、Tr值的下降幅度,促进干物质的积累,幼苗干重增加29.2%,生长加快。可见,Gd2(CO3)3可通过调节Ca(NO3)2胁迫下嫁接西瓜幼苗抗氧化性,减少其膜脂过氧化程度,进而维持其较高的光合性能,有效促进了Ca(NO_3)_2胁迫下嫁接西瓜幼苗的生长。     

Hydrogen peroxide scavenging mechanisms are components of Medicago truncatula partial resistance to Aphanomyces euteiches

The biochemical processes underlying the expression of resistance in the roots of Medicago truncatula against Aphanomyces euteiches infection was investigated, with emphasis on oxidative stress. The levels of H₂O₂, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, catalase, soluble phenolics and lignin were measured in the roots of two lines, A17 partially resistant and F83005.5 susceptible to A. euteiches at three infection stages; penetration of the epidermis (1 dpi), colonization of the cortex (3 dpi) and invasion of the root stele (6 dpi). A rapid and large decrease of the H₂O₂ levels in A17 roots occurred. However, in F83005.5 roots, the decrease in H₂O₂ levels was delayed until 3 dpi. In A17 roots, the activities of ascorbate peroxidase, peroxidase and catalase were induced as early as 1 dpi, whereas a general decrease in the activity of the four antioxidant enzymes was observed in F83005.5 roots. The levels of soluble phenolics and lignin were increased in A17 roots at 3 and 6 dpi, respectively. The H₂O₂ levels were negatively correlated to ascorbate peroxidase, catalase and lignin production at 1, 3 and 6 dpi, respectively in A17 roots. Physiological concentrations of H₂O₂ found in M. truncatula infected roots had no detrimental effect on the in vitro growth of this oomycete. Our data suggest that H₂O₂ does not have a direct antimicrobial effect on M. truncatula resistance to A. euteiches, but is involved in cell wall strengthening around the root stele, preventing pathogen invasion of the vascular tissues.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichoderma harzianum</Emphasis>- mediated reprogramming of oxidative stress response in root apoplast of sunflower enhances defence against <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhizoctonia solani</Emphasis>

Trichoderma harzianum is an effective biocontrol agent against the devastating plant pathogen Rhizoctonia solani. Despite its wide application in agriculture, the mechanisms of biocontrol are not yet fully understood. Mycoparasitism and antibiosis are suggested, but may not be sole cause of disease reduction. In the present study, we investigated the role of oxidant-antioxidant metabolites in the root apoplast of sunflower challenged by R. solani in the presence/absence of T. harzianum NBRI-1055. Analysis of oxidative stress response revealed a reduction in hydroxyl radical concentration (^•OH; 3.6 times) at 9 days after pathogen inoculation (dapi), superoxide anion radical concentration (O₂^•−; 4.1 times) at 8 dapi and hydrogen peroxide concentration (H₂O₂; 2.7 times) levels at 7 dapi in plants treated with spent maize-cob formulation of T. harzianum NBRI-1055 (MCFT), as compared to pathogen-inoculated plants. The protection afforded by the biocontrol agent was associated with the accumulation of the ROS gene network: the catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and ascorbate peroxidase (APx), maximum activity of CAT (11.0 times) was observed at 8 dapi, SOD (7.0 times) at 7 dapi, GPx (5.4 times) and APx (8.1 times) at 7 dapi in MCFT-treated plants challenged with the pathogen. This was further supported by the inhibition of lipid and protein oxidation in Trichoderma-inoculated plants. MCFT stimulated the accumulation of secondary metabolites of phenolic nature that increased up to five-fold and also exhibited strong antioxidant activity at 8 dapi, eventually leading to the systemic accumulation of phytoalexins. These results suggest that T. harzianum–mediated biocontrol may be related to alleviating R. solani-induced oxidative stress.     

Effect of calcium nutrition on resistance of tomato against bacterial wilt induced by Ralstonia solanacearum

This study investigated the effect of calcium nutrition on tomato bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum and the regulation of resistance mechanisms. Plants cultured in nutrient solution with calcium concentrations of 0.5, 5.0, and 25.0 mM, were inoculated with R. solanacearum by the root dip method. Severity of disease development, Ca concentration in tomato root and shoot tissues, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) concentration, peroxidase (POD, EC 1.11.1.7) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO, EC 1.10.3.2) in tomato leaves were analyzed. Disease severities of low, medium and high Ca treatments were 100 %, 77.1 % and 56.8 % respectively. Plant growth in high Ca treatment was significantly better than those in low Ca treatment in height, stem diameter and biomass. Tomato plants absorbed significantly more Ca in roots and shoots as the level of Ca in the nutrient solution increased. In addition, H₂O₂ level in high Ca treatment rose faster and reached a higher peak with 10.86 μM gFW^?1(31.32 % greater than medium Ca plants). The activities of POD and PPO also have a greater increase in high Ca treatment with 99.09 U gFW^?1 and 107.24 U gFW^?1 compared to 40.70 U gFW^?1 and 77.45 U gFW^?1 in low Ca treatment. A negative correlation was found between Ca concentration, level of H₂O₂, POD, PPO in tomato, and disease severity, indicating that they played an important role in resistance of tomato to this disease. These results suggested that Ca was involved in the regulation of H₂O₂ concentration, and activity of POD and PPO in tomato.