Effect of fungal infection and high temperature stress on antioxidant components in Brassica juncea recombinant inbred lines Kaur Prabhjot1*, Gupta Shilpa1, Sangha Manjeet Kaur2, Kaur Gurpreet1 1Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141 004, Punjab 2Department of Biochemistry, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141 004, Punjab *Corresponding author: 2507prabh@gmail.com
Online published on 13 November, 2020. Abstract Brassica juncea recombinant inbred lines (150) were assessed for enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants associated with fungal diseases (Alternaria blight and white rust) and high temperature stress tolerance. The disease severity for Alternaria blight was scored under natural conditions whereas it was under artificial inoculation for white rust. Heat stress was evaluated by exposing seedlings at 45°C for 6h. No line was found to be completely resistant against Alternaria blight whereas 46 lines depicted 0% disease severity for white rust. For heat stress, 30 lines gave 100% survival. Our investigation suggested the protective role of phenylalanine and o-hydroxyphenols against Alternaria blight, glutathione against both fungal diseases and proline against high temperature stress. Significant negative correlation of phenylalanine, o-hydroxyphenols and glutathione was observed with fungal disease severity; however, proline was positively correlated to survival percentage. This information could be used by breeders in their breeding programmes for developing resistant/tolerant lines against Alternaria blight, white rust and high temperature stress. Top Keywords Alternaria blight, Antioxidants, Brassica juncea, High temperature stress, White rust. Top |