Phytoparasitica (2022) 50, 1043-1058

Ashok K. Sau, Mukesh K. Dhillon and Neha Trivedi (2022)
Activation of antioxidant defense in maize in response to attack by Sesamia inferens (Walker)
Phytoparasitica 50 (5), 1043-1058
Abstract: Plants defend from herbivores by activating a plethora of genetic and biochemical mechanisms aimed at reducing insect survival and plant damage. In this study, we analyzed constitutive and insect damage induced macromolecules, antioxidant enzymes and corresponding antioxidants in order to identify strength of resistance in maize in response to attack by Sesamia inferens. There were significant differences among the maize genotypes for all the test biochemicals. Further, the S. inferens damage resulted in significant increase in total proteins, total sugars, catalase, phenyl ammonia lyase, tyrosine ammonia lyase, total antioxidants, total phenol, tannins and Ferric ion reducing antioxidant power, but there was also a significant variation in increase in these biochemicals with respect to genotypes. The integrative analysis of these macromolecules, antioxidant enzymes and antioxidants revealed that the S. inferens damage in maize is characterized by higher secondary metabolite production and a strong redox response in resistant maize genotypes, mainly mediated by tannins and phenols as anti-nutritive compounds. Furthermore, the maize genotypes viz., CPM 2, CPM 9, CPM 13, CPM 15 and CML 345 were found with greater constitutive and/or pink stem borer induced defense phytochemicals like enzymatic activity and nonenzymatic antioxidant defense biochemicals, thus could be used to develop S. inferens resistant varieties of maize.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Mukesh K. Dhillon

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
resistance/tolerance/defence of host

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Sesamia inferens	Maize/corn (Zea mays)	India