title: Nitrate reductase and nitrite as additional components of defense system in pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.) against Helicoverpa armigera herbivory.
abstract: Amylase inhibitors serve as attractive candidates of defense mechanisms against insect attack. Therefore, the impediment of Helicoverpa armigera digestion can be the effective way of controlling this pest population. Nitrite was found to be a potent mixed non-competitive competitive inhibitor of partially purified α-amylase of H. armigera gut. This observation impelled us to determine the response of nitrite and nitrate reductase (NR) towards H. armigera infestation in nine pigeonpea genotypes (four moderately resistant, three intermediate and two moderately susceptible). The significant upregulation of NR in moderately resistant genotypes after pod borer infestation suggested NR as one of the factors that determine their resistance status against insect attack. The pod borer attack caused greater reduction of nitrate and significant accumulation of nitrite in moderately resistant genotypes. The activity of nitrite reductase (NiR) was also enhanced more in moderately resistant genotypes than moderately susceptible genotypes on account of H. armigera herbivory. Expression of resistance to H. armigera was further revealed when significant negative association between NR, NiR, nitrite and percent pod damage was observed. This is the first report that suggests nitrite to be a potent inhibitor of H. armigera α-amylase and also the involvement of nitrite and NR in providing resistance against H. armigera herbivory.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India.
authors.forename: Rimaljeet
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kaur
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India. Electronic address: anilkgupta1954@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Anil Kumar
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India.
authors.forename: Gaurav Kumar
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Taggar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D036561:Cajanus / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000469:parasitology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D060434:Herbivory; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D009036:Moths / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*; D050901:Nitrate Reductase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009565:Nitrate Reductases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009573:Nitrites / Q000378:metabolism*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000516:alpha-Amylases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019476:Insect Proteins; D009573:Nitrites; D010940:Plant Proteins; D009565:Nitrate Reductases; D050901:Nitrate Reductase; D000516:alpha-Amylases
keywords: Helicoverpa armigera; Nitrate; Nitrate reductase; Nitrite; Nitrite reductase; Pigeonpea