The role of antioxidants in the Orobanche – cultivated plants interaction and broomrape invasion

ACAR O., DEMİRBAŞ S.

4th ESENIAS Workshop: International workshop on IAS in agricultural and non-agricultural areas in ESENIAS region, Çanakkale, Turkey, 16 - 17 December 2013, vol.1, no.1, pp.24-25

  • Publication Type: Conference Paper / Summary Text
  • Volume: 1
  • City: Çanakkale
  • Country: Turkey
  • Page Numbers: pp.24-25
  • Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Orobanche spp. and Phelipanche spp. (Broomrapes) are obligate root parasites that are leafless and devoid of chlorophyll. Their growth and development is entirely dependent upon their host. Seed germination of these plants depends upon chemical signal molecules that are released from the host plants. Broomrape species significantly reduce the yield of many cultivated plants such as sun flower, tobacco, tomato, potato by infecting these plants. The occurrence of broomrape in many agricultural areas is increasing. Environmental stresses also reduce the yield of many cultivated plants. New crop cultivars resistant to biotic and abiotic stress factors are required to maintain the yields. Numerous studies show that the antioxidant capacity of plants correlates with resistance to environmental stresses. This capacity to tolerate stress is determined by enzymatic (SOD, POX, APX, CAT, GR etc) and non-enzymatic (ascorbate, tocopherol, glutathione etc) antioxidants. The results of our research indicate that some tomato varieties grown in Çanakkale, exposed to broomrape infection, exhibit
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differential antioxidant capacities. Similar results were observed in some sunflower, pepper and eggplant varieties. Additionally, an exposure to salt stress induced an increase in the resistance to the broomrape infection in Arabidopsis stimulated by increased levels of antioxidant enzymes. In this review, recent research results on the interactions between the antioxidant enzymes and the broomrape infection were analyzed. We focused on the infestation of broomrape in agricultural areas based on antioxidant capacities of some agricultural plants.