The oxidants and antioxidant enzymes in tomato leaves treated with o-hydroxyethylorutin and infected with Botrytis cinerea

Abstract

Application of o-hydroxyethylorutin restricted the development of Botrytis cinerea in tomato leaves. Superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide generation rates and changes in superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and catalase activities were studied in uninfected tomato plants, in plants infected with B. cinerea, and in plants treated with o-hydroxyethylorutin and infected with pathogen. About two times higher hydrogen peroxide concentration were found in plants treated with o-hydroxyethylorutin and infected with the pathogen at the early infection stages compared with untreated infected plants. In vitro tests showed that germination of B. cinerea conidia was significantly inhibited by H2O2. Higher H2O2 concentrations were needed to inhibit mycelial growth. The results indicate that o-hydroxyethylorutin triggers hydrogen peroxide production in tomato plants and suggest that enhanced levels of H2O2 are involved in restricted B. cinerea infection development.