@Article{phyton.2026.076451,
AUTHOR = {Sugey Vásquez-Hernández, Joaquín Adolfo Montes-Molina, Federico Antonio Gutierrez-Miceli, Nancy Ruiz-Lau, Victor Manuel Ruiz-Valdiviezo, Carlos Alberto Lecona-Guzmán},
TITLE = {Differential Activation of Defense Enzymes in Clonal Lines of <i>Agave americana</i> Derived from Chemical Mutagenesis in Response to <i>Fusarium oxysporum</i> Infection},
JOURNAL = {Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany},
VOLUME = {95},
YEAR = {2026},
NUMBER = {3},
PAGES = {--},
URL = {http://www.techscience.com/phyton/v95n3/66766},
ISSN = {1851-5657},
ABSTRACT = {<i>Agave americana</i> L. is potentially a source of functional and nutritive compounds. However, its yield has been compromised by vascular wilt, which is associated with the presence of the <i>Fusarium oxysporum</i>. In response to this phytosanitary problem, the implementation of efficient methods to mitigate the damage. Biotechnological techniques offer a viable alternative to improve and increase the production of species of interest via genetic improvement. By use of mutagenic chemical agents, these techniques have been consolidated as a powerful tool to induce genetic variability and select genotypes with greater tolerance to pathogens. In this study, we evaluated the activity of three pathogenesis-related (PR) enzymes, namely β-1,3-glucanase (PR2), chitinase (PR3), and peroxidase (PR9), that were present in second generation (F2) plants belonging to two resistant clonal lines and to one <i>A. americana</i> line that was susceptible to <i>F. oxysporum</i>. This was used to generate information that can be applied to biotechnology strategies for genetic preservation of the species and agro-industrial use. Plants that were six months old were selected, which were susceptible (Control) and resistant (Clone 1, Clone 4). These were inoculated with <i>F. oxysporum</i> and kept under controlled greenhouse conditions. Enzyme activity was assessed at 0 and 72 hpi and then 7, 15, and 30 dpi. The results showed a significant decrease in β-1,3-glucanase enzyme activity in susceptible plants (control) and in clone 4, as compared to clone 1 plants. Regarding chitinase activity, a progressive increase was observed in control plants and clone 1 over time, while a steadier regulation was detected in clone 4. Lastly, peroxidase activity decreased over time in infected control plants, while dynamic variations were observed in both clonal lines, suggesting a regulated response. These findings indicate that enzyme activity plays a key role in defense against pathogens and that each clonal line of <i>A. americana</i> could activate different defense mechanisms against infection by <i>F. oxysporum</i>.},
DOI = {10.32604/phyton.2026.076451}
}