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Variation of active iron and ferritin content in pear cultivars with different levels of pathogen resistance following inoculation with Erwinia amylovora

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Abstract

The resistant phenotype of pear cultivars includes either complete resistance or tolerance to the attack by the causative agent of fire blight. The effect of ferritin and active iron (Fe2+) concentrations was compared in resistant (Dargazi), tolerant (Harrow Sweet), and susceptible (Bartlett) pear cultivars inoculated with a wild type strain of Erwinia amylovora (Ea273). The examination of necrosis revealed that resistance to the disease manifested itself as a delay in the appearance of symptoms and progression of the disease. Despite a rise in ferritin levels in all cultivars following disease agent inoculation, resistant and tolerant cultivars showed greater ferritin levels than susceptible cultivar. In addition, only resistant and tolerant cultivars displayed a drop in Fe2+ levels. The rate of decrease in Fe2+ content in Dargazi and Harrow sweet cultivars was 28 and 33%, respectively. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and hydroxyl radical (OH•−) accumulation and intensities were considerably distinctive. Furthermore, tolerant and sensitive cultivars started producing OH•− radicals faster than resistant cultivar. According to these findings, different pathways are employed by pear cultivars to respond to the causative agent of fire blight.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Faezeh Ghanati and Zeinab Salehi for their technical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Horticulture Science, Abhar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Abhar, Iran

    Roohollah Maleki & Hamid Abdollahi

  2. Temperate Fruits Research Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Horticultural Sciences Research Institute, Karaj, Iran

    Hamid Abdollahi & Saeed Piri

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  1. Roohollah Maleki
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  2. Hamid Abdollahi
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  3. Saeed Piri
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Correspondence to Hamid Abdollahi.

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Maleki, R., Abdollahi, H. & Piri, S. Variation of active iron and ferritin content in pear cultivars with different levels of pathogen resistance following inoculation with Erwinia amylovora. J Plant Pathol 104, 281–293 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42161-021-00998-9

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