Differential expression of defense related enzymes and protease inhibitors in two different genotypes of chickpea by Trichoderma harzianum L1

Abstract

Induction of some defense related enzymes and protease inhibitors by Trichoderma harzianum L1 was investigated in two different genotypes of chickpea cvs. JG62 and A1 which were susceptible and resistant to wilt/root rot diseases caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri and Macrophomina phaseolina, respectively. Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activities were increased by two fold in resistant cv. A1 than that of susceptible cv. JG62 upon treatment with salicylic acid and T. harzianum L1. Induction of the multiple isoforms of catalases was observed in roots and shoots of cv. JG62 and they were insensitive to salicylic acid (SA) or T. harzianum L1. However, no new isoforms of catalases were observed in either roots or shoots of cv. A1 and the native CAT-2 was inhibited. Induction of new isoforms of peroxidase, chitinase (PR-3) and ?-1, 3-glucanse (PR-2) was observed in the resistant cv. A1. New protease inhibitors (PIs) were elicited in both the cultivars; however PIs of cv. A1 were highly effective in inhibiting the fungal growth as well as proteases secreted by F. oxysporum f. sp. ciceri and M. phaseolina.