Abstract
The lack of resistance to Lipaphis erysimi in cultivated Brassicas makes caused this pest highly devastating resulting in significant loss of rapeseed-mustard productivity in India. B. fruticulosa, a wild crucifer is known as an excellent source of resistance to L. erysimi. Therefore, we planned to assess defense associated biochemical alterations and molecular components of B. juncea-B. fruticulosa ILs to mustard aphid. Phenotypic assessment of ILs on the basis of aphid population per plant (APP) categorized genotypes into resistant (7.15-18.50 APP), moderately susceptible (42.29-53.33 APP) and susceptible (70.00-77.07 APP) genotypes. Mustard aphid infested minimally B. fruticulosa (0.80 APP) among tested genotypes. The maximum increase in catalase (CAT) activity was determined in B. fruticulosa and resistant ILs after 48 h (2.03 and 1.76-fold, respectively) and one week (2.98 and 1.79-fold, respectively) of mustard aphid infestation. The strong induction of CAT2 transcripts (19.25-fold) and CAT activity (5.88-fold) along with low aphid count in resistant IL, Ad(4)-64 (13.85 APP) suggested the pivotal role of CAT in resistance to mustard aphid. Guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) was significantly decreased following pest infestation at both infestation stages. The ascorbate content was highest in resistant IL, ADV-6RD (2.14-fold) after one week of aphid infestation. H(2)O(2) content rapidly increased in B. juncea-B. fruticulosa derived lines after 48 h of aphid infestation. The negative and significant association between APP and CAT (- 0.56** and - 0.48*, respectively), glutathione (- 0.43* and - 0.40*, respectively), H(2)O(2) (- 0.57** and - 0.43*, respectively) at both 48 h and one week infestation stages signified their role in deterring mustard aphid infestation. The positive and significant association between total sugars (0.33* at 7 DPI), reducing sugars (0.33* at 7 DPI), sucrose (0.36** at 48 h) and APP indicated that higher the sugars content, higher will be mustard aphid infestation in B. juncea derived ILs. The information being generated and key candidates (CAT2, ascorbate and H(2)O(2)) being identified may help in effective deployment of B. fruticulosa resistance in mustard breeding.