The Application of Phytohormones as Biostimulants in Corn Smut Infected Hungarian Sweet and Fodder Corn Hybrids
Lóránt Szőke,
Makoena Joyce Moloi,
Gabriella Enikő Kovács,
Györgyi Biró,
László Radócz,
Mária Takácsné Hájos,
Béla Kovács,
Dalma Rácz,
Mátyás Danter,
Brigitta Tóth
Affiliations
Lóránt Szőke
Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, Institute of Food Science, University of Debrecen, 138 Böszörményi St., 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Makoena Joyce Moloi
Department of Plant Sciences, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of the Free State-Main Campus, P.O. Box 339, 9300 Bloemfontein, South Africa
Gabriella Enikő Kovács
Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, Institute of Plant Protection, University of Debrecen, 138 Böszörményi St., 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Györgyi Biró
Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, Institute of Plant Protection, University of Debrecen, 138 Böszörményi St., 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
László Radócz
Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, Institute of Plant Protection, University of Debrecen, 138 Böszörményi St., 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Mária Takácsné Hájos
Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, Institute of Horticultural Science, University of Debrecen, 138 Böszörményi St., 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Béla Kovács
Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, Institute of Food Science, University of Debrecen, 138 Böszörményi St., 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Dalma Rácz
Institute of Land Use Technology and Regional Development, University of Debrecen, 138 Böszörményi St., 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Mátyás Danter
Modern Application Platform Business Unit, VMware, Inc. 3401 Hillview Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
Brigitta Tóth
Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, Institute of Food Science, University of Debrecen, 138 Böszörményi St., 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
The main goal of this research was to investigate the effects of corn smut (Ustilago maydis DC. Corda) infection on the morphological (plant height, and stem diameter), and biochemical parameters of Zea mays L. plants. The biochemical parameters included changes in the relative chlorophyll, malondialdehyde (MDA), and photosynthesis pigments’ contents, as well as the activities of antioxidant enzymes—ascorbate peroxidase (APX), guaiacol peroxidase (POD), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). The second aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of phytohormones (auxin, cytokinin, gibberellin, and ethylene) on corn smut-infected plants. The parameters were measured 7 and 11 days after corn smut infection (DACSI). Two hybrids were grown in a greenhouse, one fodder (Armagnac) and one a sweet corn (Desszert 73). The relative and the absolute amount of photosynthetic pigments were significantly lower in the infected plants in both hybrids 11 DACSI. Activities of the antioxidant enzymes and MDA content were higher in both infected hybrids. Auxin, cytokinin, and gibberellin application diminished the negative effects of the corn smut infection (CSI) in the sweet corn hybrid. Phytohormones i.e., auxin, gibberellin, and cytokinin can be a new method in protection against corn smut.
