Antioxidative response of wheat genotypes under Fusarim spp. infestation

Fusarium head blight (FHB) caused by fungi Fusarium spp., is a serious wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) disease that can reduce yield and quality of the grain. Fungi produces mycotoxins that can be harmful to humans and animals. Plants provide ROS-scavening mechanisms that include both antioxidative enzymatic and nonenzymatic systems. Enhanced activities of ROS antioxidative enzymes can be a great indicator of genotype susceptibility under pathogen infestation. The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of Fusarium spp. in three wheat genotypes (‘Super Žitarka’, ‘Apache’ and ‘Lucija’) through activity of antioxidative enzymes, level of lipid peroxidation, H\(_{2}\)O\(_{2}\) concentration and protein content. At the anthesis, ears were inoculated by the suspension of Fusarium spp. and left under in vivo conditions. After 7 days of treatment in all wheat genotypes, Fusarium did not cause notable changes in catalase (CAT) activity. Treated ears of ‘Super Žitarka’ showed inhibition of APX activity. At the same time in ‘Lucija’ pathogen induced remarkably increase in activity of guaiacol peroxidase (POD) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO), decreased H\(_{2}\)O\(_{2}\) concentration, decline in malonedialdehyde (MDA) content and lower protein content. The variances in antioxidative response and protein content imply genetic variability of wheat genotypes, which can cause differences in Fusarium spp. susceptibility.