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Pratylenchus vulnus infecting apple rootstock MM106: Defense reaction, plant nutrient alterations and pathogenic potential

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Abstract

The aim of this study was at investigating biochemical changes and plant nutrient alterations in roots and leaves of apple rootstock MM106 following nematode infection. The pathogenic potential of Pratylenchus vulnus at increasing inoculum doses was also investigated. Three tests were carried out using apple plants of different ages (3 months, 1 year, and 3 years) under greenhouse conditions. The enzymatic activity of Catalase (CAT), Peroxidase (POX), Polyphenol-Oxidase (PPO), and Ascorbate peroxidase (APX) were measured in roots of 3-month-old apple plants at 7 days post-inoculation (dpi). Total phenol, total protein content, the lipid peroxidation marker (MDA) and the content of N, P, K, Fe, and Zn were quantified in roots of 3- and 36-month-old plants by atomic spectrometry at 135 dpi and 11 months after inoculation, respectively. The activity of POX, PPO and APX increased after pathogen infection in 3-month-old plants whereas CAT activity decreased. Total protein content and MDA augmented, but total phenols were reduced in 3- and 36-month-old plants inoculated with 1000 or 5000 nematodes. The content of P, K, and Zn in leaves decreased but Fe content increased at the highest dose tested (5000 nematodes/plant). Changes in the enzymatic activities induced in apple roots in response to P. vulnus are part of the defense mechanisms of the host against nematode attack. The nematode reproduced in rootstocks MM106, MM111 and Ba29 and population densities increased on rootstock MM106 as the initial dose did.

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  1. Department of Biological Sciences and Plant Protection, Higher Agronomic Institute of Chott-Meriem, Sousse University, 4042, Sousse, Tunisia

    Noura Chihani-Hammas & Najet Horrigue-Raouani

  2. IFAPA Centro La Mojonera, Camino de San Nicolás 1, 04745, Almería, Spain

    Soledad Verdejo-Lucas

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Chihani-Hammas, N., Verdejo-Lucas, S. & Horrigue-Raouani, N. Pratylenchus vulnus infecting apple rootstock MM106: Defense reaction, plant nutrient alterations and pathogenic potential. Eur J Plant Pathol 167, 169–181 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-023-02694-z

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