Expresión de genes antioxidantes y contenido de clorofila y almidón en árboles de limón Persa (Citrus latifolia Tanaka Ex Q. Jiménez) con HLB bajo la aplicación de elicitores de resistencia

Abstract

Persian lime is economically important for Mexico. However, the disease known as Huanglongbing (HLB) causes chlorosis symptoms in the foliage that affect the growth and decreases the yield of the trees. The expression of chlorosis symptoms is associated with starch accumulation and inhibition of antioxidant activity. The objective of the present work was to determine the effect of the application of three resistance elicitors on the expression of three antioxidant genes and on starch and chlorophyll content in Persian lime trees with HLB. Salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA) or gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) were applied every eight days for nine weeks using a completely randomized design and a one-way ANOVA was performed for the analysis. Expression of APX, CAT and SOD genes was quantified at week nine at four different times. Starch and total chlorophyll content was estimated every three weeks by spectrophotometric methods. The application of the elicitors significantly increased the expression of the three genes, with SA and GABA generating the greatest increase at different times of application. No difference was found in starch and total chlorophyll content at most of the times evaluated. The use of resistance elicitors is promising in the management of HLB in plots already infected, seeking to extend the productive life of the orchards and thus counteract the economic losses caused by HLB.