Abstract

Wheat leaf rust caused by Puccinia triticina Eriks is the most destructive and prevalent rust disease among global wheat cultivars. The best early prevention method for avoiding rust diseases or minimizing their impact is to choose a variety with known resistance. In our present study, four dicoccum wheat genotypes DIC GPM 66 and DIC GPM 64 (susceptible), HW 1098 and DDK 1029 (resistant) were screened for leaf rust resistance genes such as Lr 28, Lr 46 and Lr 68. Antioxidative and nitrogen assimilatory enzymes activity were studied in healthy and leaf rust inoculated leaves. Lr 28, Lr 46 and Lr 68 genes were present in HW 1098 and DDK 1029. The activity of antioxidative enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, phenyl ammonia lyase activity was found higher in treated leaves compared to healthy leaves and resistant genotypes showed higher activity compared to susceptible genotypes, suggesting that higher activity was induced to detoxify the ROS production during leaf rust infection that made the plant to protect from oxidative damage in case of resistant genotypes. Minimum decrease in the nitrate and nitrite reductase activity was observed in case of resistant genotypes compared to susceptible genotypes, that shows susceptible genotypes lack the ability to maintain the nitrogen metabolism under leaf rust infection. Therefore, our study revealed the significant difference in defense related enzyme between resistant and susceptible genotypes along with molecular screening could be the promising tool for selecting the resistant cultivar.

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