title: Plant defence induced by PGPR against Spodoptera litura in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.).
abstract: The research conducted including its rationale: Spodoptera litura is the major pest of tomato causing significant reduction in tomato yield. Application of Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria(PGPR) prevent use of chemical fertilizer and synthetic pesticides through enhancement of plant growth and yield and induction of systemic resistance. Present investigation is an attempt to evaluate the role of PGPR, Pseudomonas putida and Rothia sp. on the physiology and yield of tomato fruit infested with the S. litura. Central methods applied: The surface sterilized seeds of tomato were inoculated with 48 h culture of P. putida and Rothia sp. At 6-7 branching stage of the plant, the larvae of S. litura at 2nd in star was used to infect the tomato plant leaves.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The S. litura infestation decreased dry weight of shoots and roots by 46% and 22%, and significant reduction was recorded in tomato fruit yield. The P. putida and Rothia sp. inoculations alleviated the adverse effects of insect infestation and resulted in 60% increase in plant biomass and 40% increase in yield over infested plants. Main conclusions including key points of discussion: PGPR: Defense appears to be mediated via increase in proline production, enhanced activities of antioxidant enzymes, stimulation in the activities of protease and polyphenol oxidases, increased contents of phenolics, protein and chlorophyll. The formulation of biopesticide involving PGPR comprise an environment friendly and sustainable approach to overcome insect infestation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biosciences, Quaid avenue University of Wah, Wah Cantt, 47040.|Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan, 45320.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bano
authors.affiliation: Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan, 45320.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Muqarab
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000378:metabolism; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology*; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D008835:Micrococcaceae / Q000502:physiology*; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D010572:Pest Control, Biological / Q000379:methods*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000254:growth & development; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000254:growth & development; D011392:Proline / Q000378:metabolism; D016958:Pseudomonas putida / Q000502:physiology*; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D018411:Spodoptera / Q000502:physiology*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins; D002734:Chlorophyll; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D011392:Proline; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases
keywords: 
  Pseudomonas putida
  ; Induced systemic resistance; plant defence; plant growth promoting rhizobacteria; plant insect interactions