Phenol Contents, Oxidase Activities, and the Resistance of Coffee to the Leaf Miner Leucoptera coffeella

• Published in: Journal of chemical ecology Vol. 32; no. 9; pp. 1977 - 1988
• Main Authors: Ramiro, D.A, Guerreiro-Filho, O, Mazzafera, P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Springer 01.09.2006; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Antioxidants; Biological and medical sciences; catechol oxidase; Catechol Oxidase - metabolism; chemical concentration; chlorogenic acid; Chlorogenic Acid - metabolism; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Coffea arabica; Coffea arabica x Coffea racemosa; Coffea racemosa; Coffee; Coffee - enzymology; Coffee - physiology; enzyme activity; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Hybrids; induced resistance; Insecticide Resistance; leafminers; Leaves; Lepidoptera; Lepidoptera - pathogenicity; Leucoptera coffeella; Liquid chromatography; Lyonetiidae; Perileucoptera coffeella; peroxidase; Peroxidase - metabolism; pest resistance; phenolic compounds; Phenols; Phenols - metabolism; plant defense; Plant Diseases - parasitology; Plant Leaves; resistance mechanisms; Enzyme; Activity; Catechol oxidase; Chlorogenic acid; Coffee; Phenolics; Pest; Phytophagous; Sensitivity resistance; Peroxidases; Insect resistance; Phenols; Peroxidase; Insect resistance, Leucoptera coffeella; Oxidoreductases; Polyphenol oxidase
• ISSN: 0098-0331; 1573-1561
• DOI: 10.1007/s10886-006-9122-z

We examined the role of phenolic compounds, and the enzymes peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase, in the expression of resistance of coffee plants to Leucoptera coffeella (Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae). The concentrations of total soluble phenols and chlorogenic acid (5-caffeoylquinic acid), and the activities of the oxidative enzymes peroxidase (POD) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO), were estimated in leaves of Coffea arabica, C. racemosa, and progenies of crosses between these species, which have different levels of resistance, before and after attack by this insect. The results indicate that phenols do not play a central role in resistance to the coffee leaf miner. Differences were detected between the parental species in terms of total soluble phenol concentrations and activities of the oxidative enzymes. However, resistant and susceptible hybrid plants did not differ in any of these characteristics. Significant induction of chlorogenic acid and PPO was only found in C. racemosa, the parental donator of the resistance genes against L. coffeella. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis also showed qualitative similarity between hybrids and the susceptible C. arabica. These results suggest that the phenolic content and activities of POD and PPO in response to the attack by the leaf miner may not be a strong evidence of their participation in direct defensive mechanisms.