Induction of defensive responses in sugarcane against Sugarcane mosaic virus with two bioproducts

Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.), main sugar crop worldwide, is affected by multiple pathogens. One of the most important viral diseases in this crop is mosaic, caused by Sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV). This research was conducted with the objective of demonstrating the ability of two bioproducts to induce defenses response against this virus. The first based on the encapsulation of the endopolygalacturonase enzyme of the yeast Kluyveromyces marxianus CCEBI 2011 and another whose active principle is constituted by phenolic compounds produced by sugarcane in temporary immersion bioreactors. SP70-1284 cultivars susceptible to SCMV and resistant C323-68 were treated with the bioproducts and inoculated with SCMV. The severity of the infection, the accumulation of superoxide radicals and the expression of 10 defense-related genes were evaluated. The resistant cultivar did not show symptoms of infection during the development of the experiment, while in the susceptible the application of both bioproducts decreased the severity of the infection between 38.9 and 44.4% with respect to the control. The presence of superoxide radicals was observed in the first hours of sugarcane-SCMV interaction, while at 28 days’ post inoculation, a differentiated expression of three genes related to antiviral defense was observed. The ability of both bioproducts to induce defensive responses in sugarcane against SCMV was demonstrated.