<i>Lippia sidoides</i> Cham. Compounds Induce Biochemical Defense Mechanisms Against <i>Curvularia lunata</i> sp. in Maize Plants

Corn (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) productivity is often compromised by phytosanitary challenges, with fungal disease like Curvularia leaf spot being particularly significant. While synthetic fungicides are commonly used, there is growing interest in exploring alternative compounds that are effec...

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Main Authors: Bruna Leticia Dias, Talita Pereira de Souza Ferreira, Mateus Sunti Dalcin, Dalmarcia de Souza Carlos Mourão, Paulo Ricardo de Sena Fernandes, Taila Renata Neitzke, João Victor de Almeida Oliveira, Tiago Dias, Luis Oswaldo Viteri Jumbo, Eugênio Eduardo de Oliveira, Gil Rodrigues dos Santos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:J
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8800/8/1/7
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author Bruna Leticia Dias
Talita Pereira de Souza Ferreira
Mateus Sunti Dalcin
Dalmarcia de Souza Carlos Mourão
Paulo Ricardo de Sena Fernandes
Taila Renata Neitzke
João Victor de Almeida Oliveira
Tiago Dias
Luis Oswaldo Viteri Jumbo
Eugênio Eduardo de Oliveira
Gil Rodrigues dos Santos
author_facet Bruna Leticia Dias
Talita Pereira de Souza Ferreira
Mateus Sunti Dalcin
Dalmarcia de Souza Carlos Mourão
Paulo Ricardo de Sena Fernandes
Taila Renata Neitzke
João Victor de Almeida Oliveira
Tiago Dias
Luis Oswaldo Viteri Jumbo
Eugênio Eduardo de Oliveira
Gil Rodrigues dos Santos
author_sort Bruna Leticia Dias
collection DOAJ
description Corn (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) productivity is often compromised by phytosanitary challenges, with fungal disease like Curvularia leaf spot being particularly significant. While synthetic fungicides are commonly used, there is growing interest in exploring alternative compounds that are effective against pathogens, ensure food safety, and have low toxicity to non-target organisms. In this study, we examined the biochemical changes in corn plants treated with <i>Lippia sidoides</i> essential oil and its major compound, thymol. Both treatments serve as preventive measures for inoculated plants and induced resistance. We tested five concentrations of each product in in vivo experiments. After evaluating the area under the disease progress curve, we analyzed leaf samples for enzymatic activities, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and chitinase. Phytoalexin induction was assessed using soybean cotyledons and sorghum mesocotyls. Cytotoxicity tests revealed lower toxicity at concentrations below 50 µL/mL. Both essential oil and thymol stimulated the production of reactive oxygen species, with thymol primarily activating catalase and <i>L. sidoides</i> oil increasing ascorbate peroxidase levels. Both thymol and <i>L. sidoides</i> were also key activators of chitinase. These findings suggest that <i>L. sidoides</i> essential oil and thymol are promising candidates for developing biological control products to enhance plant defense against pathogens.
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spelling doaj-art-3cba5cf8048a447dbe17a4715b420e9a2025-08-20T03:43:11ZengMDPI AGJ2571-88002025-02-0181710.3390/j8010007<i>Lippia sidoides</i> Cham. Compounds Induce Biochemical Defense Mechanisms Against <i>Curvularia lunata</i> sp. in Maize PlantsBruna Leticia Dias0Talita Pereira de Souza Ferreira1Mateus Sunti Dalcin2Dalmarcia de Souza Carlos Mourão3Paulo Ricardo de Sena Fernandes4Taila Renata Neitzke5João Victor de Almeida Oliveira6Tiago Dias7Luis Oswaldo Viteri Jumbo8Eugênio Eduardo de Oliveira9Gil Rodrigues dos Santos10Departamento de Fitopatologia, Universidade Federal do Tocantins (UFT), Gurupi 77402-970, TO, BrazilCurso de Engenharia de Bioprocessos e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Campus Gurupi, Gurupi 77402-970, TO, BrazilDepartamento de Fitopatologia, Universidade Federal do Tocantins (UFT), Gurupi 77402-970, TO, BrazilDepartamento de Fitopatologia, Universidade Federal do Tocantins (UFT), Gurupi 77402-970, TO, BrazilDepartamento de Fitopatologia, Universidade Federal do Tocantins (UFT), Gurupi 77402-970, TO, BrazilDepartamento de Fitopatologia, Universidade Federal do Tocantins (UFT), Gurupi 77402-970, TO, BrazilDepartamento de Fitopatologia, Universidade Federal do Tocantins (UFT), Gurupi 77402-970, TO, BrazilCurso de Engenharia Agronômica, Universidade Estadual do Tocantins (UNITINS), Campus de Palmas, Palmas 77001-090, TO, BrazilPrograma de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Tocantins (UFT), Gurupi 77402-970, TO, BrazilDepartamento de Entomologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV), Viçosa 36570-900, MG, BrazilDepartamento de Fitopatologia, Universidade Federal do Tocantins (UFT), Gurupi 77402-970, TO, BrazilCorn (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) productivity is often compromised by phytosanitary challenges, with fungal disease like Curvularia leaf spot being particularly significant. While synthetic fungicides are commonly used, there is growing interest in exploring alternative compounds that are effective against pathogens, ensure food safety, and have low toxicity to non-target organisms. In this study, we examined the biochemical changes in corn plants treated with <i>Lippia sidoides</i> essential oil and its major compound, thymol. Both treatments serve as preventive measures for inoculated plants and induced resistance. We tested five concentrations of each product in in vivo experiments. After evaluating the area under the disease progress curve, we analyzed leaf samples for enzymatic activities, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and chitinase. Phytoalexin induction was assessed using soybean cotyledons and sorghum mesocotyls. Cytotoxicity tests revealed lower toxicity at concentrations below 50 µL/mL. Both essential oil and thymol stimulated the production of reactive oxygen species, with thymol primarily activating catalase and <i>L. sidoides</i> oil increasing ascorbate peroxidase levels. Both thymol and <i>L. sidoides</i> were also key activators of chitinase. These findings suggest that <i>L. sidoides</i> essential oil and thymol are promising candidates for developing biological control products to enhance plant defense against pathogens.https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8800/8/1/7biorational disease controlplant-based essential oilenzymatic activitiesreactive oxygen speciesplant resistance activators
spellingShingle Bruna Leticia Dias
Talita Pereira de Souza Ferreira
Mateus Sunti Dalcin
Dalmarcia de Souza Carlos Mourão
Paulo Ricardo de Sena Fernandes
Taila Renata Neitzke
João Victor de Almeida Oliveira
Tiago Dias
Luis Oswaldo Viteri Jumbo
Eugênio Eduardo de Oliveira
Gil Rodrigues dos Santos
<i>Lippia sidoides</i> Cham. Compounds Induce Biochemical Defense Mechanisms Against <i>Curvularia lunata</i> sp. in Maize Plants
J
biorational disease control
plant-based essential oil
enzymatic activities
reactive oxygen species
plant resistance activators
title <i>Lippia sidoides</i> Cham. Compounds Induce Biochemical Defense Mechanisms Against <i>Curvularia lunata</i> sp. in Maize Plants
title_full <i>Lippia sidoides</i> Cham. Compounds Induce Biochemical Defense Mechanisms Against <i>Curvularia lunata</i> sp. in Maize Plants
title_fullStr <i>Lippia sidoides</i> Cham. Compounds Induce Biochemical Defense Mechanisms Against <i>Curvularia lunata</i> sp. in Maize Plants
title_full_unstemmed <i>Lippia sidoides</i> Cham. Compounds Induce Biochemical Defense Mechanisms Against <i>Curvularia lunata</i> sp. in Maize Plants
title_short <i>Lippia sidoides</i> Cham. Compounds Induce Biochemical Defense Mechanisms Against <i>Curvularia lunata</i> sp. in Maize Plants
title_sort i lippia sidoides i cham compounds induce biochemical defense mechanisms against i curvularia lunata i sp in maize plants
topic biorational disease control
plant-based essential oil
enzymatic activities
reactive oxygen species
plant resistance activators
url https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8800/8/1/7
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