The Influence of o-hydroxyethylorutin on Botrytis cinerea Oxidant–Antioxidant Activity

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of o-hydroxyethylorutin on Botrytis cinerea mycelium growth and metabolism. Hydrogen peroxide concentration, superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidase activities were compared in the pathogens mycelium grown on control and o-hydroxyethylorutin containing medium. Transfer of B. cinerea mycelium to medium supplemented with 5 mm o-hydroxyethylorutin resulted in a large decrease in catalase activity. No changes in mycelium growth, hydrogen peroxide concentration and superoxide dismutase activity were observed. Guaiacol and ascorbate peroxidases were not detected in mycelia. The data are consistent with previous findings that o-hydroxyethylorutin treatment of tomato plants restricts the development of B. cinerea infection due to the induction of higher active oxygen species (AOS) generation in plants by this compound. Being poor in catalase, the pathogen may not be able to cope with increasing AOS formation. The results indicate that catalase is an infective agent of B. cinerea.