title: Foliar application of β-D-glucan nanoparticles to control rhizome rot disease of turmeric.
abstract: The soilborne Oomycete Pythium aphanidermatum is the causal agent of rhizome rot disease, one of the most serious threats to turmeric crops. At present, effective fungicides are not available. Researches on nanoparticles in a number of crops have evidenced the positive changes in gene expression indicating their potential use in crop improvement. Hence, experiments were carried out to determine the effect of β-D-glucan nanoparticles (nanobiopolymer) in protection of turmeric plants against rot disease by the way of products that reinforce plant's own defense mechanism. Foliar spray of β-D-glucan nanoparticles (0.1%, w/v) elicited marked increase in the activity of defense enzymes such as peroxidases (E.C.1.11.1.7), polyphenol oxidases (E.C.1.14.18.1), protease inhibitors (E.C.3.4.21.1) and β-1,3-glucanases (E.C.3.2.1.39) at various age levels. Constitutive and induced isoforms of these enzymes were investigated during this time-course study. β-D-glucan nanoparticles (GNPs) significantly reduced the rot incidence offering 77% protection. Increased activities of defense enzymes in GNPs-applied turmeric plants may play a role in restricting the development of disease symptoms. These results demonstrated that GNPs could be used as an effective resistance activator in turmeric for control of rhizome rot disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Science, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli 620 024, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Sathiyanarayanan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Anusuya
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Science, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli 620 024, Tamil Nadu, India. Electronic address: sathiyabamam@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Muthukrishnan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sathiyabama
mesh_terms: D004156:Catechol Oxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D030024:Curcuma / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000382:microbiology*; D005959:Glucosidases / Q000378:metabolism; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000187:drug effects*; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D027343:Rhizome / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000382:microbiology*; D047071:beta-Glucans / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D047071:beta-Glucans; D004156:Catechol Oxidase; D009195:Peroxidase; D005959:Glucosidases
keywords: Enzyme activity; Protection; Rhizome rot; Turmeric.; β-d-glucan nanoparticles