Über die Polyphenoloxydase bei gesunden sowie von Rotylenchulus reniformis Lin. et Ol. und Meloidogyne incognita Chit. (Nematoda) befallenen Tomaten

Assay of polyphenol oxidase activity in relation to infection with the reniform nematode, influence of reducing and oxidizing agents and the enzyme activity level inRotylenchulus reniformis- andMeloidogyne incognita-tomatoes were conducted in this study. Polyphenol oxidase activity was greater inR. reniformis-infected than in uninfected roots, but was less in tissues treated with ascorbic acid and glutathione reducing agents than in healthy or in tissues treated with copper oxychloride oxidizing agent. In uninfected roots, activity of polyphenol oxidase was nearly equal to that inR. reniformis infected tissues treated with copper oxychloride. Best plant growth was observed with copper oxychloride which was associated with the least soil and root numbers ofR. reniformis. The enzyme activity in tissues infected withR. reniformis was much higher than in those parasitized withM. incognita. This activity in either nematode infected tissue was higher than that noticed in healthy tissues. This work demonstrated the occurrence of altered metabolism uponR. reniformis infection, involvement of the oxidation-reduction physiological processes anti/pro nematode buildup as well as the detection of noticeable differences in polyphenol oxidase activity whenR. reniformis orm. incognita was present.