Abstract
Chickpea is produced as well as consumed highest in India amongst the whole world but, production is seriously curtailed by Fusarium wilt, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceris (FOC). In stressful conditions, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) production increases in plants which cause significant damage. To reduce this ROS, plants have inbuilt antioxidants that can detoxify ROS and protect cells of plants. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of Micrococcus luteus on the induction of defense enzymes in the presence and absence of Fusarium in chickpea. Talc-based bio-formulation of marine M. luteus was employed under pot trials to scrutinize mechanism of induced resistance against Fusarium by the improvement of defense enzymes like SOD, POX as well as accumulation of L-proline, total phenolic and pigments like chlorophyll and carotenoids. Pot trials were done using four different conditions- T1 (control), T2 (M. luteus treated), T3 (FOC treated), and T4 (M. luteus + FOC treated). Defense enzymes were studied and a maximum increase in M. luteus treated plants as compared to control and pathogen treated plants were noted. The chlorophyll and carotenoid content were improved in M. luteus treated plants to pathogen treated plants. This study indicated that M. luteus helps the plant to protect itself from free radicals as it showed significant induction of enhanced plant defense response against soil-borne pathogen to protect chickpea plant.
Highlights
Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is one of the major legume crops widely cultivated for its edible seeds in the Indian sub-continent
The present study aimed to investigate the effect of Micrococcus luteus on the induction of defense enzymes in the presence and absence of Fusarium in chickpea
We have found enhanced superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in plants treated with M. luteus, in turn, helps plants to fight in stress condition because SOD is an illustrious antioxidant enzyme accumulates during any type of stress in plants to counter oxidative stress
Summary
Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is one of the major legume crops widely cultivated for its edible seeds in the Indian sub-continent. Seeds provide a decent and economical source of protein for essentially the vegetarian population, by choice or economic reasons, of developing countries especially in South Asia (Gaur et al, 2012). This plant has a significant role in agriculture but the overall crop productivity is sternly hampered by the incursion of soil-borne pathogens such as fungi, bacteria, and viruses. When plants are exposed to any biotic or abiotic stressful condition, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) production increases and it causes significant damage to the cellular components of plants. The resistance mechanism of the host can be scrutinized by measuring the alteration in defenserelated marker enzymes in response to external stimuli such as biotic and abiotic factors (Kavino et al, 2009)
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