Peroxidase activity in rice leaves infected withHelminthosporium oryzae in relation to lesion maturation

Two-week-old seedlings of two rice varieties, resistant CH13 and susceptible Benibhog, were inoculated with a conidial suspension ofHelminthosporium oryzae. The resistant host exhibited greater peroxidase activity than the susceptible one when infected with the pathogen. Enzyme activities were measured 0, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 h after infection. Peroxidase activity in diseased leaves bearing young lesions,i.e., 24 h after inoculation, was not appreciably different from that in non-infected leaves. At the intermediate and mature stages of lesion development,ri.e., 72 and 120 h after inoculation, a marked increase in peroxidase activity was observed. The pattern of increased enzyme activity was similar in both varieties but the whole event proceeded faster in the resistant variety. No marked change in peroxidase activity in healthy leaves of both the varieties was noticed with increase of seedling age.