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Anthracnose (ANT) caused by Colletotrichum lindemuthianum is the most devastating seed-borne fungal disease of common bean. In response to fungal infections, it is hypothesized that pathogen–plant interactions typically cause hypersensitive reactions by producing reactive oxygen species, hydrogen peroxide and lipid peroxidation of cell membranes. esent study was conducted by inoculating susceptible bean genotype "SB174" and resistant bean genotype "E10" with pathogen "C. lindemuthianum". Defense-related enzymes (ascorbate peroxidase, peroxidase, lipid peroxidase, and catalase) and C-based compounds (total phenols and flavonoids) were studied using the detached bean leaf method. Comparative defense response was studied in different plant tissues (pod, stem, and seed) in susceptible and resistant bean genotypes under uninoculated and pathogen-inoculated conditions. The host‒pathogen interaction was studied at mock inoculation, 2, 4 and 6 days after inoculation (dai). Comparing the pathogen-inoculated bean leaves to water-treated bean leaves, defense enzymes as well as total phenols and flavonoids exhibited differential expression. In a comparative study, the enzyme activity also displayed differential biochemical responses in pods, stems and seeds in both contrasting genotypes. For example, 5.1-fold (pod), 1.5-fold (stem) and 1.06-fold (seed) increases in ascorbate peroxidase activity were observed in the susceptible genotype at 6 dai compared to mock inoculation. Similarly, catalase activity in pods was upregulated (1.47-fold) in the resistant genotype and downregulated (1.30-fold) in the susceptible genotype at 6 dai. The study revealed that defense-related antioxidative enzymes, phenols and flavonoids are fine-tuned to detoxify important reactive oxygen species (ROS) molecules, induce systemic resistance and are successfully controlled in common bean plants against pathogen invasion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: The production of maize (Zea mays L.) is restricted by various edaphic stresses, including drought and low-fertility soil. Searching for genotypes with optimal root traits is a promising practice when breeding for improved adaptation to abiotic stress and resource-use efficiency. Methods: Using an established semi-hydroponic phenotyping technique, we assessed root trait variability across 174 maize genotypes including 113 cultivars and 11 breeding lines from northern China and 50 Serbian hybrids. Results: Large variation in root architecture traits was observed among the tested genotypes 28 days after transplanting. Sixteen of the characterized traits had coefficients of variation greater than 0.25, especially local root traits. Root traits including total root length, root length at various depths, total shoot mass and nodal root angle, should be considered in maize breeding programs. Genotype ranking data based on a composite score was used to assist in the selection of genotypes with contrasting root architecture traits for future studies. Conclusion: This study identified genotypic variation in root architecture traits in a diverse genotypes of maize. The outcomes of this study could form a basis for maize breeding programs aimed at producing maize cultivars for improved adaptation to target environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study on Stevia callus has the potential to advance the knowledge of antioxidant mechanisms involved in unorganized cells response to drought stress. The effects of polyethylene glycol (PEG; 0 and 4% w/v) in combination with paclobutrazol (PBZ; 0 and 2 mg l-1) and gibberellin (GA; 0 and 2 mg l-1) were studied on Stevia rebaudiana callus. PEG treatment led to an oxidative stress, as indicated by increased H2O2 content whose accumulation was prevented with PBZ and GA treatments. All treatments of PEG, PBZ and GA increased the total antioxidant capacity, with the highest antioxidant power in PBZ and GA treatments without PEG. The activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase and ascorbate peroxidase significantly increased in PEG treatment alone or in combination with PBZ and GA. All treatments of PEG, PBZ and GA significantly increased proteins, amino acids and proline contents, with the highest increase in presence of PBZ in medium culture. In contrary to proline, the activity of pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase and proline dehydrogenase did not change in response to any of the treatments. Collectively, our results demonstrated that PBZ and GA increased reactive oxygen species scavenging and osmolytes in PEG-treated calli more than PEG treatment alone to alleviate negative effects of PEG on Stevia calli. These findings will enable us to design effective genetic engineering strategies in callus culture to generate some somaclonal variation that may be useful in enhancing drought resistance in Stevia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]