Effect of glutamate on Pyricularia oryzae infection of rice monitored by changes in photosynthetic parameters and antioxidant metabolism

Considering the importance of blast caused by Pyricularia oryzae in the decrease of rice yield worldwide, this study aimed to assess the photosynthetic performance [leaf gas exchange and chlorophyll (Chl) a fluorescence parameters as well as the photosynthetic pigments concentration], the activities of antioxidant enzymes [ascorbate peroxidase, catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione‐S‐transferase] and concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the leaves of rice plants non‐supplied (−Glu) or supplied (+Glu) with glutamate (Glu) and non‐infected or infected by P. oryzae. Blast severity was reduced in the leaves of +Glu plants. On the infected leaves of +Glu plants, the values for internal CO2 concentration were lower while the values for net carbon assimilation rate, stomatal conductance as well as for the concentrations of Chl a, Chl b and carotenoids were higher in comparison to infected leaves of −Glu plants. The functionality of the photosynthetic apparatus was preserved in the infected leaves of +Glu plants. The activities of CAT, GPX, GR, POX and SOD increased in the infected leaves of both −Glu and +Glu plants compared to their non‐inoculated counterparts, but their activities were lower for +Glu plants. The lower activity of these antioxidative enzymes was triggered by the reduced hydrogen peroxide concentration in the infected leaves of +Glu plants resulting in lower MDA concentration. It can be concluded that photosynthesis was less impaired in infected plants supplied with glutamate due to the lower biochemical constraints for CO2 fixation. Moreover, there was a need for lower activity of reactive oxygen species scavenging enzymes in infected leaves of plants supplied with glutamate due to the lower oxidative stress imposed by P. oryzae infection.