Physicochemical Mechanisms of Resistance in Sorghum to Chilo Partellus (Swinhoe)
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Indian Journal of Experimental Biology Vol. 56, January 2018, pp. 29-38 Physicochemical mechanisms of resistance in sorghum to Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) Mukesh K Dhillon1* & DP Chaudhary2 1Division of Entomology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, India 2Biochemistry Laboratory, ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research, Pusa Campus, New Delhi 110 012, India Received 03 May 2017; revised 20 August 2017 Variation in nutritional components and amounts of secondary metabolites not only affects the growth, development and survival of insect herbivores but also indirectly influences expression of host plant resistance to insects. In this study, we examined the role of different biochemical and morphological factors in sorghum as host plant defense against the spotted stem borer, Chilo partellus (Swinhoe). The genotypes IS 2205 and IS 2123 suffered lower deadheart incidence, and exhibited deleterious effects on development and survival of C. partellus, followed by ICSV 700, ICSV 708 and ICSV 25066 than the susceptible check, Swarna. The anthocyanin pigmentation in sorghum seedlings and C. partellus deadhearts were found significantly and negatively correlated with the larval period (r = −0.60** to −0.88**), while positively correlated with the larval and pupal weights, and larval survival and adult emergence (r = 0.58* to 0.95**). Conversely, the numbers of C. partellus exit holes in the stalk, larvae recovered, number of tunnels and stem tunneling length were significantly and positively correlated (*, ** = P ≤0.05 and 0.01, respectively) with the larval period (r = 0.72** to 0.89**), but significantly and negatively correlated with larval and pupal weights, larval survival and adult emergence (r = −0.54* to −0.84**). Although there was significant variation in morphological traits and biochemical composition of the sorghum genotypes, there was no direct link to expression of resistance to this insect, but for a few cases. The significant and negative association of total carotenoid, p-coumaric acid, zinc and iron contents with growth, development and survival of C. partellus, and damage parameters (r = −0.48* to −0.72**), indicated their role in expression of resistance to C. partellus in sorghum. However, the interaction among different biochemical compounds and the morphological traits, rather than a particular biochemical constituent played a greater role in host plant defense against C. partellus. Keywords: Anthocyanin pigmentation, Antibiosis, Deadheart incidence, Host plant resistance, Mechanisms of resistance, Sorghum bicolor, Spotted stem borer Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench is one of the most lesions on the leaves. The older larvae leave the important cereal crops in the semi-arid tropics, and whorl, bore into the stem where it cuts the growing insect pests are one of the major yield-reducing point resulting in “deadheart” symptom. In older factors. A number of stem borer species have been plants, the larva feeds inside the stem causing reported as serious pests of sorghum in Asia and extensive tunneling. Feeding and stem tunneling by Africa, of which spotted stem borer, Chilo partellus C. partellus larvae cause huge crop losses due to (Swinhoe) is the predominant species in Indian interference with translocation of metabolites and subcontinent, and South and eastern Africa, causing nutrients, thus resulting in poor development of serious damage to sorghum, maize and pearl millet1,2. grains, stem breakage, lodging, direct damage to It causes 18-25% yield loss in sorghum and maize3. panicles and loss in grain yield. Spotted stem borer attack in sorghum starts from two Several control strategies such as crop rotation, weeks old seedlings, affects all plant parts except the field sanitation, introduction of parasitoids and use of roots and persists up to crop harvest. The neonate synthetic pesticides have been employed for the larvae scrap the leaf chlorophyll, and the early instar control of C. partellus but their deployment have not larvae while feeding in the whorl cause irregular given satisfactory control particularly when the larvae shaped pinholes which later convert to elongated are feeding inside the stalks4. In such a scenario, host plant resistance could be exploited as one of the most ————— effective mean of minimizing losses due to insect *Correspondence: Telefax: +91 11 25842482 pests and sustainable sorghum production. Several E-mail: [email protected] sorghum germplasm accessions have been screened, 30 INDIAN J EXP BIOL, JANUARY 2018 and a number of C. partellus resistance sources have stem length tunneled, number of exit holes, and been identified5. However, resistance reaction to number of C. partellus larvae recovered from the test C. partellus has been noticed highly variable across plants. Data on numbers of plants with C. partellus climatic conditions which could be due to variability in deadhearts were recorded at 45 days after seedling feeding potential or varying insect pressure at different emergence (DAE), and expressed as percentage of the locations. Thus, the effect of stem borer damage on total number of plants. Observations on leaf grain yield may reflect in multiple traits, such as non- glossiness15 and anthocyanin pigmentation16 were preference for oviposition, reduced feeding by the first recorded at 7 DAE on a scale of 1 to 5. Five randomly instars on young leaves, low deadheart formation, selected plants were cut at the base before harvest, reduced tunneling, and tolerance to leaf damage and and exit holes were recorded per plant after removing stem tunneling6-8. A number of biochemical factors, the sheath leaves. The stalks of five randomly selected such as low sugar content, amino acids, total sugars, plants were split open to determine the number of tannins, total phenols, neutral detergent fiber, acid C. partellus larvae and the number of tunnels per detergent fiber and lignins9-12 have also been reported plant. The length of the stem tunneled (cm) by to be associated with resistance to stem borer in C. partellus and the total peduncle length (cm) were sorghum. However, Dhillon and Chaudhary13 reported measured from five randomly selected plants, and the that the plant defense against C. partellus in maize is data were presented as percent length tunneled per due to complex interactions among different plant in relation to total peduncle length. biochemical constituents rather than the concentration of particular biochemical constituent. Thus, selection Sorghum plant samples for biochemical analysis and developmental biology of C. partellus for resistance to stem borer based on individual The seedlings of test sorghum genotypes were parameter is difficult as sorghum genotype identified raised in the plastic pots (12L capacity) under resistant to leaf feeding damage and/or deadhearts may 14 glasshouse conditions on the potting mixture be susceptible to stem tunneling and vice versa . consisted of red soil and farm yard manure (2: 1). Therefore, in the present study we explored Before sowing, diammonium phosphate was applied biochemical interactions in diverse sorghum genotypes @ 50 g per pot. Ten seeds were sown in each pot and with biological and damage parameters to understand there were 10 pots for each sorghum genotype. The their role in plant defense against C. partellus. plants were watered as per need. The 21-days old seedlings of each genotype were harvested from the Materials and Methods base in separate polythene bags and immediately Field evaluation of sorghum genotypes for C. partellus damage and morphological traits transferred in the ice-box. After completion of The four selected sorghum genotypes IS 2123, harvesting, the seedlings of each test sorghum ICSV 700, ICSV 708 and ICSV 25066 along with genotype were stored at −20°C. The refrigerated resistant (IS 2205) and susceptible (Swarna) checks seedling samples were then freeze dried in a were sown in 2 row plots of 2 m row length with row- lyophilizer at −50°C to avoid changes in chemical row spacing of 60 cm in the research fields of ICAR- composition of the seedlings. Dried sorghum Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, seedlings were fine powdered (<80 mesh size) in a India, during 2011-2013 Kharif (July-October) mixer-grinder and stored in zip-lock plastic bags at seasons. These test sorghum genotypes have earlier −20°C in the refrigerator for biological and been reported to show resistance to C. partellus1,5. biochemical studies. The seeds were sown with dibbling method in three Evaluation of different sorghum genotypes for antibiosis against replications in a randomized complete block design C. partellus (RCBD). One week after seedling emergence, The biological studies of C. partellus were carried thinning was carried out to maintain plant-plant on artificial diet17, impregnated with lyophilized spacing of 10 cm. The crop was grown and seedling powder of test sorghum genotypes under maintained following standard agronomic practices, laboratory conditions maintained at 28 ± 1°C, 60 ± except insecticide application. The observation were 10% RH, and 12 h photoperiod. The sorghum leaf recorded on plants with stem borer deadhearts, leaf powder of susceptible sorghum genotype glossiness, anthocyanin pigmentation, number of (a constituent of standard C. partellus artificial diet) tunnels caused by C. partellus per stem, percentage of was replaced with lyophilized seedling powder of DHILLON & CHAUDHARY: CHILO PARTELLUS RESISTANCE MECHANISMS IN SORGHUM 31 respective test sorghum genotype (as described separation gradient used was 90% B to 10% A in 2 min, above) keeping the quantity of other dietary 90% B to 60% B in 15 min, 60% B to 10% B in constituents as per standard artificial diet. The diet 20 min and 90% B to 10% B in 25min. Total run time thus prepared was poured in 250 mL capacity plastic was 25 min. The phenolic acids were detected using cups having lids fitted with wire-mesh. Each cup was PDA at 254 nm with the column condition set at poured with 50 mL diet, and allowed to settle for 4 h. 30ºC. The ferulic acid and p-coumaric acid peaks Fifteen neonate C.