Work

Montmorillonite nanoclay triggers immunity responses in wheat against Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici, and suppresses uredospore germination

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici causes the important disease, yellow rust of wheat (Triticum aestivum). Montmorillonite nanoclay (MNC) is naturally occurring and biodegradable. This study assessed in vitro anti-germination effects of MNC on P. striiformis uredospores. Application of MNC at 150 mg L-1 completely inhibited uredospore germination, and MNC at 100 mg L-1 reduced yellow rust severity in wheat plants by 89%. Expression of defense-related genes was increased after MNC treatment at 100 mg L-1, by 5.23-fold for jasmonate and ethylene-responsive factor 3 (JERF3), 4.89-fold for chitinase class II (CHI II), and 2.37-fold for pathogenesis-related protein 1 (PR1). Applying MNC at 100 mg L-1 also activated the antioxidant enzymes POD to 62.1 unit min-1 g-1 fresh wt, PPO to 21.6 units min-1 g-1 fresh wt, and CAT to 36.6 units min-1 g-1 fresh wt. MNC also enhanced phenolic content in wheat leaves (to 1489.53 mg 100 g-1 f. wt), and reduced lipid oxidation levels (to 5.6 μmol MDA g-1 fresh wt). MNC at 100 mg L-1 also mitigated damaging effects of P. striiformis infections on host leaf cell ultrastructure, increased leaf photosynthetic pigments, and increased wheat plant growth. These results show that MNC has potential as a natural control agent for yellow rust of wheat, although field testing of MNC is necessary before this material can be recommended for wheat production.

Source: Phytopathologia Mediterranea

DOI: 10.36253/phyto-15291

Authors: Younes M. RASHAD, Mohamed HAFEZ, Mohamed BOUROUAH, Ahmed M. ABD-ELGAWAD, Hany H.A. EL-SHARKAWY

Institutions: City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications, Hahn-Schickard-Gesellschaft für angewandte Forschung, King Saud University, Agricultural Research Center

Language: English

Topic: Wheat and Barley Genetics and Pathology

Subfield: Plant Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Zero hunger

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $808