Impact of Fusarium verticillioides on superoxide dismutase activity and leaf proteins of two corn lines by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis

To evaluate the effect of Fusarium verticillioides on fresh weight, chlorophyll index, the activity of superoxide dismutase isoforms, and leaf proteins using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis in two corn lines, a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design with five replications was performed with two corn lines B73 and MO17, infected with and without F. verticillioides under greenhouse conditions. The results showed that the effect of F. verticillioides on fresh weight was not significant, but it was significant on chlorophyll index in both corn lines. Electrophoretic analyses were carried out using 8% slab polyacrylamide gels. Superoxide dismutase was observed in three isoforms into polyacrylamide gels, and also these isoform activates were increased in plants infected by F. verticillioides. Leaf tissue proteome analysis of two corn lines showed that eight reproducible protein spots had significant alterations under F. verticillioides. These eight differentially expressed proteins were involved in the defense system and regulation processes. Isoform 2 of Mitogen-activated protein kinase 12 and Peroxiredoxin-2E, chloroplastic proteins involved in the defense system had overexpression under F. verticillioides in both corn lines. It seems that increased superoxide dismutase isoforms and proteins involved in the defense system can reduce F. verticillioides damage in the corn seedlings.