How to Differentiate between Resistant and Susceptible Wheat Cultivars for Leaf Rust Fungi Using Antioxidant Enzymes and Histological and Molecular Studies?

Reda I Omara; Omar Abdullah Alkhateeb; Ahmed Hassan Abdou; Gabr A El-Kot; Atef A Shahin; Heba I Saad-El-Din; Rady Abdelghany; Wasimah B Al-Shammari; Muayad Albadrani; Yaser Hafez; Khaled Abdelaal

doi:10.3390/cells12222643

How to Differentiate between Resistant and Susceptible Wheat Cultivars for Leaf Rust Fungi Using Antioxidant Enzymes and Histological and Molecular Studies?

Cells. 2023 Nov 17;12(22):2643. doi: 10.3390/cells12222643.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Wheat DiseasesResearch Department, Plant Pathology Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza 12619, Egypt.
² Department of Agribusiness and Consumer Sciences, College of Agriculture & Food Sciences, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia.
³ Social Studies Department, College of Arts, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia.
⁴ Hotel Studies Department, Faculty of Tourism and Hotels, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt.
⁵ Plant Pathology Branch, Department of Agricultural Botany, Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr El-Sheikh 33516, Egypt.
⁶ Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Hail, P.O. Box 2440, Hail 55476, Saudi Arabia.
⁷ Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Taibah University, Al-Madinah Al-Munawara 999088, Saudi Arabia.
⁸ EPCRS Excellence Center, Plant Pathology and Biotechnology Laboratory, Agricultural Botany Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh 33516, Egypt.

Abstract

Eight wheat cultivars, Sakha-94, Giza-171, Sids-1, Sids-12, Sids-13, Shandweel-1, Misr-1, and Misr-2, were evaluated for leaf rust at the seedling and adult stages in the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Biochemical, histological, and genetic analyses were performed to determine the link between cultivars that were either sensitive or resistant to the disease. Misr-2 and Giza-171 cultivars had the highest levels of resistance to leaf rust races in 2021 (LTCGT, STSJT, and TTTST) and 2022 (MBGJT, TTTKS, and TTTTT) at the seedling stage. However, at the adult stage, Sakha-94, Giza-171, Misr-1, and Misr-2 cultivars had the highest levels of resistance; consequently, they had the lowest final disease severity and the lowest values of AUDPC. The correlation between the seedling reaction and adult reaction was non-significant, with values of 0.4401 and 0.4793 in the 2021 and 2022 seasons, respectively. Throughout the biochemical, histological, and genetic analyses, it was observed that catalase, peroxidase, and polyphenol oxidase activities significantly increased in the resistant cultivars. The discoloration of superoxide (O₂-) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) significantly decreased in resistant and moderately resistant wheat cultivars (Sakha-94, Giza-171, Misr-1, and Misr-2); higher hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and superoxide (O₂-) levels were recorded for the susceptible cultivars compared to the resistant cultivars. Molecular markers proved that the Lr50 gene was detected in the resistant cultivars. Puccinia triticina infections negatively affected most histological characteristics of flag leaves, especially in susceptible cultivars. The thickness of the blade (µ), the thickness of the upper and lower epidermis (UE and LE), the thickness of mesophyll tissue (MT), and bundle length and width in the midrib were decreased in susceptible cultivars such as Sids-1, Sids-13, and Shandwel-1 compared with resistant cultivars.

Keywords: Puccinia triticina; antioxidant enzymes; electrolyte leakage; histological characteristics; reactive oxygen species; wheat leaf rust.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Antioxidants
Basidiomycota*
Hydrogen Peroxide
Plant Diseases / genetics
Plant Diseases / microbiology
Superoxides
Triticum* / genetics
Triticum* / microbiology

Substances

Antioxidants
Hydrogen Peroxide
Superoxides

Grants and funding

[Grant No. 4049]/This work was supported by the Deanship of Scientific Research, Vice Presidency for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia [Grant No. 4049]