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. 2022 Mar;29(3):1770-1780.
doi: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2021.10.053. Epub 2021 Oct 25.

Histopathological and biochemical aspects of grafted and non-grafted cucumber infected with stem rot caused by Fusarium spp

Soha Sabry  1 , Ahmed Z Ali  1 , Dawlat A Abdel-Kader  1 , Mohamed I Abou-Zaid  1
Affiliations

Histopathological and biochemical aspects of grafted and non-grafted cucumber infected with stem rot caused by Fusarium spp

Soha Sabry et al. Saudi J Biol Sci. 2022 Mar.

Abstract

Cucumber grafting has been used in Egypt recently to induce soil diseases tolerance. The impact of various grafting techniques on the vulnerability of grafted cucumber seedlings to Fusarium which stimulates the stem rot was investigated. Consequently, the anatomical and physiological studies were carried out on the diseased and healthy grafted cucumber seedlings, comparing with the non-grafted ones. Fusarium equiseti (MW216971.1) caused a severe stem rot of the grafted seedling through affecting the connection area of the different grafting methods, leading to complete seedling death. The hole insertion grafting method significantly exhibited the highest diseases incidence (100%), and mean disease severity index (5) when inoculated with F. equiseti. The pathogen remarkably affected the graft union area causing tissue discoloration and decay. The levels of antioxidant enzymes and total phenols were significantly enhanced in the diseased grafted and self-rooted cucumber. However, the diseased grafted cucumber recorded significantly the highest values of the antioxidant enzymes activities and total phenolic content when compared with the self-rooted ones. The results of SDS-PAGE profile revealed variations in the leaves protein profile of the grafted and self- rooted seedlings in response to Fusarium infection. Taken together, grafting cucumber onto a resistant rootstock using the splice technique can alleviate the stem rot severity caused by Fusarium spp. by enhancing the histological, physiological and molecular defense response of the grafted seedling.

Keywords: Antioxidant enzymes; Fusarium stem rot; Grafted cucumber; Histopathology; SDS-PAGE protein profile.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

None
Graphical abstract
Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The graft union connection of the different grafting methods, after the healing and hardening stages. (A) Hole insertion grafting, (B) Approach grafting (C) Splice grafting.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The effect of both Fusarium spp. on the grafted Cucumber (grafted using three different grafting techniques) after 2 weeks of inoculation.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Symptoms of Fusarium equiseti. on Cucumber (grafted using three different grafting techniques) after 4 weeks of inoculation, compared with the non-grafted seedlings. Abbreviations: RSR: Rootstock Rot GUR: Grafting Union area Rot.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
The symptoms of Fusarium proliferatum. on Cucumber (grafted using three different grafting techniques) after 4 weeks of inoculation, compared with the non-grafted seedlings. Abbreviations: RSR: Rootstock Rot GUR: Grafting Union Area Rot.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Cross sections of the grafting union area after 4 weeks from inoculation of cucumber F1 (scion) grafted onto Supershintosa rootstock seedlings using three different grafting techniques (Oc. 10x * Obj. 4x). Abbreviations RS) Root stock SC) Scion CA) Connection Area LVB) Large Vascular Bundle SVB) Small Vascular Bundle AR) Adventitious Roots from the Scion. The Yellow arrows show the disruption of the diseased tissues indicating the periderm and cortex tissue discoloration due to the infection. A4, A5 and C5) The superficial layers of periderm and cortex tissue discoloration and disintegration. A4) Infection progress through the graft union area B4, B5 and C4) The pathogen revealed a pattern of progression through the connection area, parenchyma and the vascular tissues showing marked disruption, disintegration and lack of connection between the root stock and the scion.
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Cross sections on the stem base of the healthy and diseased self-rooted cucumber and supershintosa seedlings after 4 weeks from inoculation (Oc. 10x * Obj. 4x). D1) Healthy scion D2) Diseased scion E1) Healthy rootstock E2) Diseased rootstock. The Yellow arrows show the disruption of the diseased tissues. Abbreviations LVB) Large Vascular Bundle. AR) Adventitious Roots from the Scion. Pa) Parenchyma. The Yellow arrows show the disruption of the diseased tissues. D2) The periderm and cortex tissue discoloration and disintegration due to the production of lytic enzymes in the infected tissues causing the complete rot of the susceptible scion tissues.
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
The SDS-PAGE profile of the healthy grafted cucumber seedlings and self-rooted scion and rootstock. RS: Rootstock. G: Grafted seedling. SC: Cucumber scion.
Fig. 8
Fig. 8
The SDS-PAGE analysis for the total proteins of the diseased grafted cucumber seedlings and self-rooted scion and rootstock. RS: Rootstock. G: Grafted seedling. SC: Cucumber scion.
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