Effect of culture filtrate containing fusaric acid of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris on defence enzymes in chickpea

Production of fusaric acid (FA) by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris (Foc) race 4 and 8 was estimated through the HPLC in culture filtrate which was recorded to be 126.88 ± 5.56 and 820.51 ± 13.37 mg/L respectively. The effect of these culture filtrate (CF) containing FA was studied on post-treatment physiological changes with reference to defence enzymes in chickpea cvs. WR 315 (resistant) and JG 62 (susceptible). Increased activity of peroxidase (POX) was detected in both cvs. WR 315 and JG 62 with the treatment of CF of race 4, 8, and pure FA standard but the accumulation of POX was more in cv. WR 315 (1.27–5.23 folds) than in cv. JG 62 (1.18–3.10 folds). Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity was recorded at 4.58–5.57 folds in resistant cv. WR 315 but 1.22–3.48 folds in cv. JG 62 with CF containing FA of race 8 followed by CF of race 4. Similar trends were also recorded in the accumulation of Super Oxide Dismutase (SOD) and Phenylalanine Ammonia Lyase (PAL). SOD activity was found to increase with respect to control but higher activity was detected in cvs. WR 315 (1.1–1.43 times) and JG 62 (1.10–1.45 times) with the treatment of CF of races 4 and 8 followed by pure FA standard. Higher PAL activity was recorded in cvs. WR 315 (1.36–2.11 times) and JG 62 (1.33–2.18 times) with the treatment of CF of races 4 and 8. © Indian Phytopathological Society 2023.