Abstract
The goal of this study was to identify the zoysiagrass rust pathogens and to analyze the differences in rust-resistant and rust-susceptible Zoysia japonica germplasm upon inoculation. Based on the assessment of spore morphology and 18S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) molecular identification, the zoysiagrass rust pathogen was identified as Puccinia zoysiae Diet. The development of mycelium, the rate of spreading, and the timing of spore production were more delayed in the rust-resistant (RR) genotype than the rust-susceptible (RS) genotype. After inoculation, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) initially decreased, then increased in both the RR and RS genotypes, but the increased enzyme activities were faster in the RR than in the RS genotype. Rust resistance was positively correlated with antioxidant enzyme activity. The observed changes in CAT, POD and APX activity corresponded to their gene expression levels. The results of this study may be utilized in accurately evaluating the damage of rust disease and rust-resistance in zoysiagrass germplasm aimed at breeding the rust-resistant zoysiagrass varieties and improving disease management of zoysiagrass turf.
Highlights
IntroductionPublisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations
The uredinia were orange-colored with paraphyses, extending parallel to the veins and growing in between the mesophyll cells
Combining the traditional method with molecular identification can further improve the accuracy in rust identification [30]
Summary
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Rust is a common airborne fungal disease that can seriously reduce the turf quality, potentially causing huge economic losses [1]. The occurrence of rust disease is closely associated with the temperature and humidity. During an early disease onset, faded green spots occur at the infection sites where uredinia are formed and a large number of urediniospores are released. After plants are infected, infected cells or organs form galls or undergo necrosis. The rust pathogen absorbs nutrients from living plant cells, destroys chlorophyll, and reduces photosynthetic and respiratory rates [2], negatively affecting growth, physiology and overall health of the plants
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