engleski

Antioxidative response of wheat genotypes under Fusarium spp. infestation

Fusarium head blight (FHB) caused by fungi Fusarium spp., is a serious wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) disease which can reduce yield and quality of the grain. Fungi produces mycotoxins which can be harmful to humans and animals. Plants exhibit a wide variety of defense strategies against pathogen attack such as hypersensitive response (HR), also called plant cell death, which has the aim to localize pathogen dissemination by overproduction of H2O2. In the initial stage of pathogen infection, plant produces excessive concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS), like H2O2, superoxide (O2.-) and hydroxyl (OH.) radicals to protect themselves from attack. ROS accumulation can seriously endanger integrity of cell membranes throught lipid peroxidation or inhibit protein synthesis. Plants provide a ROS-scavening mechanisms which include both antioxidant enzymatic and nonenzymatic systems. Enhanced activities of ROS antioxidant enzymes can be a great indicator of genotype susceptibility under pathogen infestation. In wheat, Fusarium spp. induces activation of antioxidant enzymes like guaiacol peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). In order to investigate the response of wheat genotypes and to determine antioxidant properties of FHB resistant wheat cultivars compared to susceptible one under Fusarium spp. infection, the inoculation of Fusarium macroconidia will be performed under field conditions. In a few occasions after inoculation, in plant tissue we will determine the activities of POD, CAT, APX and SOD. Furthermore, we will check the level of lipid peroxidation to detect possible degradation of cell membranes.

Fusarium spp.; wheat genotypes; antioxidative enzymes; lipid peroxidation; H2O2 concentration

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