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Antifungal potential of zinc against leaf spot disease in chili pepper caused by Alternaria alternata

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Abstract

The fungal pathogen, Alternaria alternata is responsible for causing leaf spot disease in many plants, including chili pepper. Zinc (Zn) an essential micronutrient for plant growth, also increases resistance in plants against diseases, and also acts as an antifungal agent. Here, in vitro effects of ZnSO4 on the propagation of A. alternata were investigated, and also in vivo, the effect of foliar application of ZnSO4 was investigated in chili pepper plants under disease stress. In vitro, ZnSO4 inhibited fungal growth in a dose-dependent manner, with complete inhibition being observed at the concentration of 8.50 mM. Hyphae and conidial damage were observed along with abnormal activity of antioxidant enzymes, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the major changes in the protein structure of the fungal biomass after Zn accumulation. In vivo, pathogen infection caused the highest leaf spot disease incidence, and cumulative disease index, which resulted in a significant reduction in the plant’s growth (length and biomass), and physiochemical traits (photosynthetic pigment, activity of catalase, peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, and phenylalanine ammonia lyase). The heat map and principal component analysis based on disease, growth and, physico-chemical variables generated useful information regarding the best treatment useful for disease management. Foliar Zn (0.036 mM) acted as a resistance inducer in chili pepper plants that improved activities of antioxidants (CAT and POX), and defense compounds (PPO and PAL), while managing 77% of disease. The study indicated foliar ZnSO4 as an effective and sustainable agriculture practice to manage Alternaria leaf spot disease in chili pepper plants.

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Acknowledgements

Authors are thankful to the University of Punjab to provide funding to accomplish this research work. The authors have no conflict of interest. All the authors/co-authors are well conversant for their participation in the completion of research work. All authors agree that the author list is correct in its content and order and that no modification to the author list can be made without the formal approval of the Editor-in-Chief, and all authors accept that the Editor-in-Chief's decisions over acceptance or rejection or in the event of any breach of the Principles of Ethical Publishing in the Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants”. Authors have provided data (graphs and tables) supporting their findings. This data contains the results of original research work. The data contained within the work is not subject to any other copyright and that we are submitting the paper to the journal on an exclusive basis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

    Amna Shoaib, Mishaal Akhtar, Arshad Javaid, Haider Ali & Zahra Nisar

  2. Department of Organic Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

    Shabnam Javed

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  1. Amna Shoaib
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All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by AS, MA, AJ, HA, ZN, SJ. The first draft of the manuscript was written by AS and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Amna Shoaib.

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Shoaib, A., Akhtar, M., Javaid, A. et al. Antifungal potential of zinc against leaf spot disease in chili pepper caused by Alternaria alternata. Physiol Mol Biol Plants 27, 1361–1376 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12298-021-01004-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12298-021-01004-3

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