10.6084/m9.figshare.7430225.v1 Usmara Riaz Butt Usmara Riaz Butt Rabia Naz Rabia Naz Asia Nosheen Asia Nosheen Humaira Yasmin Humaira Yasmin Rumana Keyani Rumana Keyani Ishtiaq Hussain Ishtiaq Hussain Muhammad Nadeem Hassan Muhammad Nadeem Hassan Changes in pathogenesis-related gene expression in response to bioformulations in the apoplast of maize leaves against <i>Fusarium oxysporum</i> Taylor & Francis Group 2018 Wilting methyl jasmonate chitosan plant extracts defense enzymes gene expression 2018-12-06 16:39:26 Journal contribution https://tandf.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Changes_in_pathogenesis-related_gene_expression_in_response_to_bioformulations_in_the_apoplast_of_maize_leaves_against_i_Fusarium_oxysporum_i_/7430225 <p>In present study, we initially tested four different plant species <i>Aristolochia indica</i> (leaf)<i>, Cuscuta pedicellata</i> (stem)<i>, Melilotus indicus</i> (leaf) and <i>Tribulus terresteris</i> (leaf and fruit) for their antifungal potential against <i>F. oxysporum.</i> Among the studied plant species, <i>T. terresteris</i> (fruit) and <i>C. pedicellate</i> showed the maximum antifungal potential by 92% and 89%, respectively. We then investigated the potential of CHI, MeJA, and plant extracts (<i>C. pedicellate</i> and <i>T. terristris</i>) alone as well as in combinations in pot experiment. Treatments with the extracts of <i>C. pedicellata</i> and <i>T. terresteris</i> in combination with MeJA resulted in decrease in disease severity by 93% and 89%, respectively, and enhanced the plant growth. We observed significant elevated levels of expression of pathogenesis-related (PR-1) proteins (β-1-3-glucanase, chitinase, phenyl-alanine ammonia lyase (PAL), lipoxygenase, lipid transfer protein and PR protein) and defense enzymes (β-1-3-glucanase, chitinase, peroxidase, polyphenoloxidase and PAL) in the CHI and MeJA in combination with plant extracts-treated plants for defense signaling pathways in the apoplast of maize leaves compared to the inoculated control. We found CHI in combination with <i>C. pedicellata</i> most effectively induced the plant defense mechanisms against <i>F. oxysporum</i> through increased induction in the level of expression of PR-proteins.</p>