Anti-oxidative enzyme changes associated with chickpea calli tolerant to Ascochyta rabiei culture filtrate.

Ascochyta blight caused by Ascochyta rabiei (Pass.) Labrousse is a major biotic constraint in production of chickpea. In the present investigation, all chickpea genotypes [E100Y (m), Gaurav, Pb-7 and L550] induced 100% callus on standard medium with greenish colour and fragile structure. These calli were used for in vitro screening against pathogen, A. rabiei culture filtrate at 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% concentrations. Survival rate of calli in all chickpea's genotypes were reduced significantly at higher concentration (15%) of culture filtrate. The culture filtrate concentration of 20 % was lethal for calli of all chickpea's genotypes. Hence, biochemical changes viz. total soluble proteins and activities of anti-oxidative enzymes (polyphenol oxidase, peroxidase and catalase) were estimated at 15% and below concentration of culture filtrate. Tolerant calli of resistant genotype, E100 Y (m) revealed significantly higher total soluble proteins (10.04 mg g⁻¹ f.wt. of callus) and activity of anti-oxidative enzymes, polyphenol oxidase (9.0 unit absorbance change min⁻¹ mg⁻¹ protein) and peroxidase (19.09 unit absorbance change min⁻¹ mg⁻¹ protein) and lower catalase (18.65 μ moles of H2O2 utilized min⁻¹ mg⁻¹ protein) at higher (15%) concentration of culture filtrate followed by moderately resistant (Gaurav), and susceptible genotypes (Pb-7 and L550). Thus, higher polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase and lower catalase activity in chickpea's genotypes against culture filtrate of A. rabiei could be used as parameters for screening resistant genotypes to pathogen, A. rabiei.