Study of Peroxidase Enzyme Activity Induced by Trichoderma harzianum Bi in Cucumber Seedling and Its Effect in the Control of Root and Foot Rot

Pythium aphanidermatum is one of the most important agent of root and foot rot of cucumber, particularly in the warm humid climate. Induction of host resistance by microorganisms or by the synthetic compounds is recently considered as one of the biological control method of disease. Trichoderma harzianum Bi is a good candidate for induction of resistance in plant against diseases. The maximum level of resistance of seedlings to P. aphanidermatum after inoculation with T. harzianum Bi was determined using completely randomized design in greenhouse condition. The results based on the fresh root weight and root rot index of seedlings showed that the maximum level of resistance against P. aphanidermatum is induced 7 days after treatment of cucumber seedlings by T. harzianum. The variation of peroxidase activity, its isozymes, and the total soluble proteins in root extract induced by T. harzianum Bi in cucumber seedlings was determined by colorimetric and native Electrophoresis methods before and after inoculation the seedlings by P.aphanidermatum. The results showed that the maximum level of resistance induction in seedlings treated by T. harzianum Bi coincide with maximum activity of peroxidase. The peroxidase activity was evaluated by Guaiacol oxidation rate in the presence of H2O2 and changing of solution color to orange reddish, measured by the variation of light absorption per min/ mg soluble protein of root extract. The same experiment realized on T. harzianum Bi, P. aphanidermatum and the combination of two fungi demonstrated that both fungi can influence individually the peroxidase activity, but it is more pronounced and more stable and persistent in the case of seedling inoculation by combination of two fungi in comparison to the control.