Effect of the Oligosaccharid Fraction of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum on the Activity of Phenolic Metabolism Enzymes in Cotton Leaves

The synthesis of secondary metabolites, notably phenolic compounds, is part of the plant's defense reactions. The enzymes of phenolic metabolism can constitute a parameter of measurement of the defense of the plants. The aim of this work is to evaluate the activity of phenolic metabolism enzymes and an antioxidant enzyme after treatment of cotton plants with a fungal elicitor. Cotton plants obtained from the cultivar Y764AG3 were treated with the oligosaccharide fraction (FOS) of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Vasinfectum (FOV). The extraction of the enzymes is carried out cold by grinding the leaves in extraction buffer in the presence of PVP (0.5 %) and 0.1 M sodium phosphate buffer. The supernatant obtained after centrifugation of the filtrate was purified with Dowex-2 in order to obtain the purified enzymatic fraction. This fraction was used for the determination of enzyme activity by reading the absorbances. The results showed that the activity of ammonia-lyase activity was higher in the treated plants than in the control. This reflects an increase in the biosynthesis of phenolic compounds in the treated plants. On the other hand, oxidoreductase activity was higher in control plants than in treated plants. This indicates a decrease in the degradation of phenolic compounds in the treated plants. This study revealed the existence of an active phenolic metabolism in the FOS-treated plants. Thus defence mechanisms are activated in plants treated with the oligosaccharide fraction of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Vasinfectum.