Determination of catalase and ascorbate peroxidase enzyme levels after Erwinia amylovora infection in pear (Pyrus communis L.) cultivars

In this study, the reaction against Erwinia amylovora infection of two different cultivars of pear (Pyrus communis L.) was evaluated with determination of catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) antioxidant enzyme activities. For this purpose, disease resistant Kieffer and disease sensitive Santa Maria pear cultivars were inokulated with Erwinia amylovora GG3 strain. The plants in the control group of the same cultivars were sprayed with water. After treatments, it was found that CAT and APX enzyme activities differ in pear cultivars. After inoculation of pathogen, at the 12 th hour, CAT enzyme activity in the disease resistant Kieffer cultivar was found to increase 2,17 times. In Santa Maria, which is a sensitive cultivar, CAT enzyme activity was found to be very low in the pathogen inoculated plants compared to the control group. APX enzyme activity was likewise found to be high in the application group of the Kieffer cultivar, while the Santa Maria cultivar had the highest activity in the control group.