Fine and coarse regulation of reactive oxygen species in the salt tolerant mutants of barnyard grass and their wild-type parents under salt stress.

The growth of the wild-type and three salt tolerant mutants of barnyard grass (Echinochloa crusgalli L.) under salt stress was investigated in relation to oxidative stress and activities of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD: EC 1.15.1.1), catalase (CAT: EC 1.11.1.6), phenol peroxidase (POD: EC 1.11.1.7), glutathione reductase (GR: EC 1.8.1.7) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX: EC 1.11.1.1). The three mutants (fows B17, B19 and B21) grew significantly better than the wild-type under salt stress (200 mM NaCl) but some salt sensitive individuals were still detectable in the populations of the mutants though in smaller numbers compared with the wild-type. The salt sensitive plants had slower growth rates, higher rates of lipid peroxidation and higher levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in their leaves compared with the more tolerant plants from the same genotype. These sensitivity responses were maximized when the plants were grown under high light intensity suggesting that the chloroplast could be a main source of ROS under salt stress. However, the salt sensitivity did not correlate with reduced K(+)/Na(+) ratios or enhanced Na(+) uptake indicating that the sensitivity responses may be mainly because of accumulation of ROS rather than ion toxicity. SOD activities did not correlate to salt tolerance. Salt stress resulted in up to 10-fold increase in CAT activity in the sensitive plants but lower activities were found in the tolerant ones. In contrast, the activities of POD, APX and GR were down regulated in the sensitive plants compared with the tolerant ones. A correlation between plant growth, accumulation of ROS and differential modulation of antioxidant enzymes is discussed. We conclude that loss of activities of POD, APX and GR causes loss of fine regulation of ROS levels and hence the plants experience oxidative stress although they have high CAT activities.

Granular formulation of Fusarium oxysporum for biological control of faba bean and tomato Orobanche.

BACKGROUND: Orobanche spp. represent a serious threat to a wide range of crops. They are difficult targets for herbicides, and biological control could provide a possible solution. This work therefore aimed to formulate mycoherbicides of Fusarium with adequate shelf life and virulence against Orobanche but safe to faba bean and tomato. RESULTS: Only two isolates of Fusarium oxysporum Schlecht. (Foxy I and Foxy II) obtained from diseased Orobanche shoots were found to be pathogenic to Orobanche crenata Forsk. and Orobanche ramosa L. Conidial suspension of both isolates significantly decreased germination, attachments and tubercles of Orobanche. Microconidia and chlamydospores of both isolates were formulated as mycoherbicides encapsulated in a wheat flour-kaolin matrix (four different formulations). All formulations greatly diminished Orobanche emerged shoots, total shoot number, shoot height, attachment of emerged shoots, the germinated seeds that succeeded in emerging above the soil surface and dry weight. Meanwhile, disease incidence and disease severity of emerged shoots were enhanced. The shelf life was adequate, particularly for coarse, freshly prepared, low-temperature-stored, microconidia-rich formulations. The induced growth reduction of Orobanche-infected host plants seemed to be nullified by formulations, particularly at the highest dose. CONCLUSION: These formulations seemed to destroy Orobanche but appeared harmless to host plants. Hence, they could be efficiently used as mycoherbicides for biological control of Orobanche in faba bean and tomato.