Respostas fisiológicas e bioquímicas do feijão-de-corda [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] submetido ao estresse hídrico, infectado com o vírus do mosaico severo do caupi, e sob pressão dos dois estresses combinados

Abstract

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is a legume (Fabaceae) with high nutritional value grown in Brazil. However, biotic and abiotic factors are responsible for causing significant losses to the growth and yield of leguminous plants. Cowpea mosaic severe virus (CPSMV) is one of the more severe problems affecting cowpea production in Brazil. Also, cowpea are mainly grown in regions where rainfall is low, thus water deficit is quite common. This stress promotes substantial negative impact on growth and development of plants, resulting in decreased of biomass production. Under field conditions, the stresses mentioned above can occur both individually and simultaneously. Therefore, this work aimed to study the responses of cowpea (CE-31 genotype, syn. Pitiuba) subjected to water deficit, infected with CPSMV and under pressure of the two combined stresses. Under these conditions, enzyme kinetics of antioxidant protein (superoxide dismutase, catalase and ascorbate peroxidase) and PR-proteins (glucanase, chitinase and guaiacol peroxidase) as well as hydrogen peroxide dosage and quantification of CPSMV in cowpea leaves were performed. In addition, differentially accumulated proteins from cowpea leaves subjected to these stresses were identified and quantified by LC-MS/MS. Viral infection did not affect the majority of physiological parameters. Already water deficit contributed to the decrease in net photosynthesis, transpiration and stomatal conductance. At 6 days after CPSMV inoculation, the virus did not worsen the negative effects of drought. The results revealed that the enzyme kinetics of the responses was changed across different ways when the stress imposed individually or simultaneously and the presence of water deficit favored viral infection after 2 days of CPSMV inoculation. The proteomic analysis revealed 117 differentially accumulated proteins belonging to different categories according to the physiological functions: energy and metabolism, photosynthesis, protein metabolism, redox homeostasis, regulation factors and RNA processing, response to stress, plant defense and others. These results are important for understanding the cellular mechanisms that operate in cowpea (CE-31 genotype), when subjected to water deficit, CPSMV infection and both combined stresses.