Biochemical and physiological changes in maize plants supplied with silicon and infected by Exserohilum turcicum

Northern leaf blight (NLB), caused by Exserohilum turcicum, is one of the most important diseases affecting maize production worldwide. The effect of silicon (Si) on maize resistance against NLB was investigated through an in‐depth analysis of physiological and biochemical changes (measurements of g...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of phytopathology 2021-08, Vol.169 (7-8), p.393-408
Main Authors: Silveira, Patricia Ricardino, Aucique‐Pérez, Carlos Eduardo, Cruz, Maria Fernanda Antunes, Rodrigues, Fabrício Ávila
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural production
Ammonia
Antioxidants
antioxidative metabolism
Ascorbic acid
Biochemistry
Blight
Carbon dioxide
Catalase
Chitinase
Chlorophyll
Conductance
Corn
defence‐related enzymes
Energy dissipation
Enzymes
Exserohilum turcicum
Fluorescence
foliar disease
Gas exchange
Glutathione
Glutathione reductase
Hydrogen peroxide
Inoculation
L-Ascorbate peroxidase
Leaf blight
Leaves
Malondialdehyde
Metabolism
Metabolites
Northern leaf blight
Peroxidase
Phenylalanine
Photosynthesis
Photosystem II
Physiology
plant nutrition
Plants
Polyphenol oxidase
Resistance
Signs and symptoms
Silicon
Stomata
Stomatal conductance
Transpiration
Water vapor
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Northern leaf blight (NLB), caused by Exserohilum turcicum, is one of the most important diseases affecting maize production worldwide. The effect of silicon (Si) on maize resistance against NLB was investigated through an in‐depth analysis of physiological and biochemical changes (measurements of gas exchange and chlorophyll (Chl) a fluorescence parameters, activities of host defence enzymes and those involved in the antioxidative metabolism, and the determination of other metabolites) on plants non‐supplied (−Si) or supplied (+Si) with Si and inoculated with E. turcicum. Higher foliar Si concentration contributed to reducing the foliar NLB symptoms in +Si plants. Both antioxidant (ascorbate peroxidase, catalase, glutathione reductase and peroxidase) and host defence (chitinase, β‐1,3‐glucanase, polyphenoloxidase and phenylalanine ammonia‐lyase) enzymes had their activities greater for +Si plants compared to −Si plants. Lower levels of hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde were obtained for +Si plants in contrast to −Si plants. Net CO2 assimilation rate, stomatal conductance to water vapour, transpiration rate and internal CO2 concentration had their values significantly increased for +Si plants compared to −Si plants from 5 to 20 days after inoculation. The maximum quantum yield of photosystem II, effective quantum yield of the photosystem, quantum yield of regulated energy dissipation and quantum yield of non‐regulated energy dissipation were less impacted on the leaves of +Si plants compared to −Si plants. The Chl a concentration was kept higher for +Si plants than for −Si plants. Taken together, this study brings biochemical and physiological pieces of evidence that a more robust antioxidative metabolism, great activities of host defence‐related enzymes and the preservation of the photosynthetic machinery were all potentiated by Si contributing, therefore, for less NLB symptoms.
ISSN:0931-1785
1439-0434
DOI:10.1111/jph.12996