Changes in the Antioxidant System in Soybean Leaves Infected by Corynespora cassiicola.

Considering the importance of target spot, caused by the fungus Corynespora cassiicola, to reduce soybean yield in Brazil and that more basic information regarding the soybean-C. cassiicola interaction is needed, the present study aimed to investigate whether the cellular damage caused by C. cassiicola infection could activate the antioxidant system and whether a more efficient antioxidant system could be associated with an increase in soybean resistance to target spot. The activities of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione S-transferase as well as the concentrations of ascorbate (AsA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), superoxide (O2•-), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured in soybean plants from two cultivars differing in resistance to the pathogen. The number of lesions per square centimeter was significantly reduced by 14% in plants from cultivar Fundacep 59 compared with plants from cultivar TMG 132. The area under the disease progress curve was significantly lower, by 15%, in plants from Fundacep 59 than in plants from TMG 132. Generally, antioxidant enzyme activities and AsA concentration significantly increased in response to C. cassiicola infection in plants from both cultivars, however more prominent increases were recorded for plants from Fundacep 59. The concentrations of MDA, H2O2, and O2•- also increased, particularly for plants from TMG 132. The results from this study highlight the importance of a more efficient antioxidative system in the removal of reactive oxygen species generated in soybean plants during C. cassiicola infection, contributing to the resistance to target spot.

Limitations to photosynthesis in leaves of wheat plants infected by Pyricularia oryzae.

Blast, caused by Pyricularia oryzae, has become an economically important disease in wheat in Brazil, but little effort has been devoted to understanding the wheat-P. oryzae interaction. This study was intended to determine the effects of P. oryzae infection on the photosynthetic process in wheat plants using a susceptible (BR 18) and a partially resistant cultivar (BRS 229). It was found that the net carbon assimilation rate (A), stomatal conductance (gs), and transpiration rate were dramatically reduced in both cultivars due to P. oryzae infection but to a lesser degree in BRS 229. Photosynthesis was impaired in asymptomatic leaf tissues, indicating that blast severity is not an acceptable indicator for predicting P. oryzae-induced reductions in A. The proportionally larger decreases in A than in gs, in parallel with increases in internal CO2 concentration (Ci), suggest that the lower influx of CO2 into the diseased leaves caused by stomatal closure was not a prominent factor associated with the reduction in A. Additional support for this conclusion comes from the nonsignificant correlation between A and gs, the negative correlation between A and Ci and the positive correlation between blast severity and Ci. Both the maximum rate of carboxylation and the maximum rate of electron transport were dramatically depressed at advanced stages of P. oryzae infection, mainly in BR 18, although the reduction in A was not closely related to the decrease in the electron transport rate. In conclusion, biochemical limitations likely related to the reduced activity of Rubisco, rather than diffusive limitations, were the main factor associated with decreases in A during the infection process of P. oryzae on wheat leaves.

Soybean Resistance to Cercospora sojina Infection Is Reduced by Silicon.

Frogeye leaf spot, caused by Cercospora sojina, is one of the most important leaf diseases of soybean worldwide. Silicon (Si) is known to increase the resistance of several plant species to pathogens. The cultivars Bossier and Conquista, which are susceptible and resistant, respectively, to frogeye leaf spot, supplied and nonsupplied with Si were examined for the activities of defense enzymes and the concentrations of total soluble phenolics (TSP) and lignin-thioglycolic acid (LTGA) derivatives at 8, 14, and 16 days after inoculation (dai) with C. sojina. The importance of cell wall degrading enzymes (CWDE) to the infection process of C. sojina and the effect of Si on their activities were also determined. Soybean plants were grown in hydroponic culture containing either 0 or 2 mM Si (-Si and +Si, respectively) and noninoculated or C. sojina inoculated. Severity of frogeye leaf spot was higher in cultivar Bossier plants than cultivar Conquista and also in the +Si plants compared with their -Si counterparts. Except for the concentrations of TSP and LTGA derivatives, activities of defense enzymes and the CWDE did not change for +Si noninoculated plants regardless of the cultivar. The activities of lipoxygenases, phenylalanine ammonia-lyases, chitinases, and polyphenoloxidases as well as the activities of CWDE decreased for the +Si inoculated plants. The results from this study demonstrated that defense enzyme activities decreased in soybean plants supplied with Si, which compromised resistance to C. sojina infection.

Nitrogen and Silicon Contribute to Wheat Defense's to Pyrenophora tritici-repentis, but in an Independent Manner.

Nitrogen (N) and silicon (Si) are mineral elements that have shown a reduction in the damage caused by tan spot (Pyrenophora tritici-repentis (Ptr)) in wheat. However, the effects of these elements were studied separately, and the N and Si interaction effect on wheat resistance to tan spot remains elusive. Histocytological and biochemical defense responses against Ptr in wheat leaves treated with Si (+Si) at low (LN) and high N (HN) inputs were investigated. Soil amendment with Si reduced the tan spot severity in 18% due to the increase in the leaf Si concentration (around 30%), but it was affected by the N level used. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was higher in +Si plants and inoculated with Ptr, leading to early and higher H2O2 and callose accumulation in wheat leaf. Interestedly, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity was induced by the Si supplying, being negatively affected by the HN rate. Meanwhile, catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POX) activities showed differential response patterns according to the Si and N rates used. Tan spot severity was reduced by both elements, but their interaction does not evidence synergic effects in this disease's control. Wheat plants from -Si and HN and +Si and LN treatments recorded lower tan spot severity.

Biochemical changes in the leaves of wheat plants infected by Pyricularia oryzae.

Blast, caused by the fungus Pyricularia oryzae, is a major disease of the wheat crop in the Brazilian Cerrado and represents a potential threat to world wheat production. However, information about the wheat-P. oryzae interaction is still limited. In this work, the activities of the enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POX), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione reductase (GR), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and the concentrations of superoxide (O2(-)), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and malondialdehyde (MDA) as well as the electrolyte leakage (EL) were studied in wheat plants 'BR 18' and 'BRS 229', which are susceptible and partially resistant, respectively, to leaf blast at the vegetative growth stage, during the infection process of P. oryzae. The blast severity in BRS 229 was 50% lower than in BR 18 at 96 h after inoculation (hai). The activities of SOD, POX, APX, and GST increased for both cultivars in the inoculated plants compared with noninoculated plants and the increases were more pronounced for BRS 229 than for BR 18 at 96 hai. The GR and CAT activities only increased in inoculated plants from BRS 229 at 96 hai. For BR 18, the GR activity was not influenced by plant inoculation, and the CAT activity was lower in inoculated plants. The GPX activity only increased in inoculated plants from BR 18 at 48 and 72 hai. The P. oryzae infection increased the O2(-), H2O2, and MDA concentrations and EL. However, the greater increases of the SOD, POX, APX, GST, GR, and CAT activities for BRS 229 compared with BR 18 contributed to the lower O2(-), H2O2, and MDA concentrations and EL verified in the former. These results show that a more efficient antioxidative system in the removal of excess of reactive oxygen species generated during the infection process of P. oryzae limits the cellular damage caused by the fungus, thus contributing to greater wheat resistance to blast.

Silicon's Role in Abiotic and Biotic Plant Stresses.

Silicon (Si) plays a pivotal role in the nutritional status of a wide variety of monocot and dicot plant species and helps them, whether directly or indirectly, counteract abiotic and/or biotic stresses. In general, plants with a high root or shoot Si concentration are less prone to pest attack and exhibit enhanced tolerance to abiotic stresses such as drought, low temperature, or metal toxicity. However, the most remarkable effect of Si is the reduction in the intensities of a number of seedborne, soilborne, and foliar diseases in many economically important crops that are caused by biotrophic, hemibiotrophic, and necrotrophic plant pathogens. The reduction in disease symptom expression is due to the effect of Si on some components of host resistance, including incubation period, lesion size, and lesion number. The mechanical barrier formed by the polymerization of Si beneath the cuticle and in the cell walls was the first proposed hypothesis to explain how this element reduced the severity of plant diseases. However, new insights have revealed that many plant species supplied with Si have the phenylpropanoid and terpenoid pathways potentiated and have a faster and stronger transcription of defense genes and higher activities of defense enzymes. Photosynthesis and the antioxidant system are also improved for Si-supplied plants. Although the current understanding of how this overlooked element improves plant reaction against pathogen infections, pest attacks, and abiotic stresses has advanced, the exact mechanism(s) by which it modulates plant physiology through the potentiation of host defense mechanisms still needs further investigation at the genomic, metabolomic, and proteomic levels.

Tratamento de sementes com fungicidas e inseticidas como redutores dos efeitos do estresse hídrico em plantas de soja / Seed treatment with fungicides and insecticides reducing the hydric stress on soybean plants

O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de quatro tratamentos de sementes: água (T1), carbendazim + thiram (T2), fipronil + tiofanato metílico + piraclostrobina (T3) e abamectina + thiamethoxam + fludioxonil + mefenoxan + thiabendazole (T4) sobre parâmetros de crescimento de plantas de soja submetidas a dois regimes hídricos (presença e ausência de estresse hídrico) estabelecidos logo após a emergência das plântulas. O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação e campo. Na casa de vegetação, nos tratamentos sem estresse hídrico, foram feitas quatro irrigações por dia e, nos tratamentos com estresse hídrico, foi realizada uma irrigação a cada três dias. Neste ensaio, foi avaliada a estatura de plantas, comprimento radicular, volume radicular, massa seca da parte aérea, massa seca radicular e área foliar. No ensaio de campo, o estresse hídrico foi estabelecido pela construção de túneis baixos de polietileno que impediram o fornecimento de água pela irrigação e chuva. No campo, foram avaliados estatura de planta, teor relativo de clorofila, emergência, ataque de lagarta-elasmo e rendimento de grãos. Nos dois ambientes, as plantas foram mantidas sob estresse até 28 dias após a emergência. Em casa de vegetação, todos os parâmetros foram influenciados pelo tratamento de sementes na presença e ausência de estresse hídrico. No campo, o tratamento com fipronil + tiofanato metílico + piraclostrobina (T3) e abamectina + thiamethoxam + fludioxonil + mefenoxan + thiabendazole (T4) proporcionaram maior estatura de planta e teor relativo de clorofila em ambos os regimes hídricos e maior emergência e rendimento de grãos em plantas sem e com restrição hídrica, respectivamente. Conclui-se que o tratamento de sementes com esses produtos promove alterações benéficas nas plantas, aumentando sua tolerância ao estresse hídrico, com efeito positivo sobre o rendimento de grãos da soja.

The objective of this research was evaluate four seed treatments: water (T1), carbendazim + thiram (T2), fipronil + thiophanate methyl + pyraclostrobin (T3) and abamectin + thiamethoxam + fludioxonil + mefenoxan + thiabendazole (T4) on growth parameters of soybean plants with or without low water availability. The experiments were conducted under field conditions and greenhouse. In greenhouse, in treatments without low water availability, it was made four irrigations by day and in treatments with low water availability, it was made one irrigation each three days. In this trial, it was evaluated the plant height, root length, root volume, dry shoot weight, dry root weight and foliar area. In the field trial, low water availability was established by construction of low tunnels of polyethylene which prevented the water supply by irrigation and rain. In the field, it was also evaluated the plant height, the relative chlorophyll content, emergence, lesser cornstalk borer attack and grain yield. In the both environment, the plants were kept on stress until 28th days after emergence. In greenhouse, all the parameters were influenced by seed treatments with or without low water availability. In field, the treatment with fipronil + thiophanate methyl + pyraclostrobin (T3) and abamectin + thiamethoxam + fludioxonil + mefenoxan + thiabendazole (T4) promoted higher plant height and relative chlorophyll content in both hydric schemes, higher emergence and grain yield in plants without and with lower water availability, respectively. It was concluded that seed treatment with these products promote benefit changes in plant, increasing its tolerance to hydric stress, with positive effect on soybean grain yield.

Escala diagramática para avaliação de severidade de mancha-parda em arroz / Diagrammatic scale for assessment of rice brown spot severity

Uma escala diagramática com seis níveis: 1,6; 3,2; 6,4; 12,6; 23,1 e 38,6 por cento foi desenvolvida e validada para quantificar a severidade da mancha-parda em arroz causada por Bipolaris oryzae. A escala considerou o limite de severidade máxima da doença observado no campo, e os níveis intermediários seguiram incrementos logarítmicos, obedecendo-se à "Lei do estímulo de Weber-Fechner". Inicialmente, a estimativa da severidade foi realizada sem auxílio da escala, em 30 folhas com diferentes níveis de severidade, por oito indivíduos, sem experiência na avaliação de doenças. Em seguida, os mesmos avaliadores utilizaram a escala diagramática proposta. As avaliações com a escala diagramática foram mais precisas e acuradas nas estimativas de todos os avaliadores, não ocorrendo erro sistemático na superestimativa ou subestimativa da doença entre estes. A escala diagramática proposta foi considerada adequada para estimar a severidade da mancha-parda em arroz.

A diagrammatic scale with six levels of disease severity: 1.6; 3.2; 6.4; 12.6; 23.1 and 38.6 percent was developed and validated to assess rice brown spot, caused by Bipolaris oryzae. The scale was developed considering the maximum limit of disease severity observed in the field and the intermediate values followed logarithmic increases according to the "Stimulus Law by Weber-Fechner". Initially, the estimatives of severity were performed without the use of the scale in 30 leaves with different levels of severity by eight people without previous experience in assessing diseases severity. Then, the same people estimated the severity of leaves using the proposed diagrammatic scale. Assessments with the diagrammatic scale were of great precision for all raters and did not presented systematic errors in over- or underestimating the disease severity. The proposed diagrammatic scale was considered adequate to estimate rice brown spot severity.

Avaliação da ativação de defesa em soja contra Phakopsora pachyrhizi em condições controladas / Evaluation of soybean defense activation against Phakopsora pachyrhizi in controlled conditions

A efetividade da ativação de defesa em diferentes cultivares de soja contra Phakopsora pachyrhizi proporcionada pelo fosfito, bem como sua associação com fungicidas aplicados em diferentes épocas em relação à inoculação com o patógeno, foi estudada em condições de casa-de-vegetação em dois ensaios conduzidos no delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repetições. Os resultados obtidos indicaram que o fosfito não foi capaz de induzir a expressão dos mecansimos de defesa, uma vez que não foi observada qualquer redução na severidade, número de pústulas.cm-2, e na Área Abaixo da Curva de Progresso de Doença (AACPD), por conta da aplicação do produto. O progresso da ferrugem foi mais lento na cultivar Fundacep 55 RR, que teve uma AACPD 53 por cento menor do que a cultivar Fundacep 56 RR, a mais suscetível. O fungicida epoxiconazol + piraclostrobina proporcionou uma redução na AACPD de 29 por cento, quando comparado ao emprego do triazol isolado na média das épocas de aplicação. As aplicações mais próximas da inoculação e preventivas foram mais efetivas do que aquelas realizadas de forma muito precoce ou muito tardia em relação à infecção das plantas pelo patógeno. Os resultados indicaram que o fosfito não induziu resistência em soja contra P. pachyrhizi, e que houve variação na resistência parcial à ferrugem por parte das cultivares e na efetividade dos fungicidas entre si e quanto ao momento em que os mesmos são aplicados.

The effectiveness of defense activation in different soybean cultivars against P. pachyrhizi promoted by phosphite, as well as its association with fungicides in different timing of application in relation to pathogen inoculation, was studied in greenhouse conditions in two assays carried out in completely randomized design, with four replications. The results shown that phosphite was unable to induce defense, because no reduction of severity, pustules.cm-2 number, and Area Under Progress Disease Curve (AUPDC) were observed after the application of the product. The progress of rust was slower in the cultivar Fundacep 55 RR, which had a AUPDC 53 percent lower than cultivar Fundacep 56 RR, the most susceptible one. The fungicide epoxiconazole + pyraclostrobin reduced 29 percent the AUPDC value when compared to isolated triazol use, considering average timing application. Applications nearer to inoculation and preventive fungicide application were more effective than those done earlier or later in relation to plant infection by the pathogen. The data indicated that phosphite does not induce soybean resistance against P. pachyrhizi, and that there was variation on partial resistance of cultivars and on the effectiveness of fungicides between themselves and in relation to their application timing.