Responses of pepper to Alfalfa mosaic virus and manganese nutrition under greenhouse conditions: preliminary results

The present research was conducted to evaluate interactive effects of manganese (Mn) and Alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV) on some physiological characteristics of two pepper varieties including PS301 and California Wonder under greenhouse conditions. Research

Treatments included two levels of virus infection (infected and non-infected), three levels of Mn concentrations (No manganese: 0ppm, 5ppm and 10ppm) and two varieties (California Wonder and PS301). After three weeks, total chlorophyll (Chl), carbohydrate, antioxidants, phenolic compounds, dry weight and proline were measured in aerial parts.

The highest antioxidant activity observed in California Wonder treated with AMV and 5ppm Mn. The highest total Chl observed in PS301 when treated with 10 ppm Mn. Interaction between Mn and AMV showed the highest dry weight in virus infected plants without Mn supplying. Simple effects of AMV did not influence on total Chl, total carbohydrate and antioxidant, but significantly dcreased dry weight. Application of Mn significantly increased proline and carotenoid contents in infected plants. Research limitations: analysis of proteins that play important roles in resistance mechanism to plant viruses has not been measured because of restriction of accessibility of western blotting at the University of Birjand.

It is concluded that AMV infection could be ameliorated by manganese supplying because of improvement of antioxidant system and phenol content that lead to viral tolerance in pepper.