Abstract:
Plants have their own defense activity against pathogen infection. This can be induced by
application of both biotic and abiotic inducers. Antiviral compounds present in some plants act
as inducers of defense enzymes in plants against pathogens. The study was carried out to
determine the induced defense enzymes by application of plant extracts in chilli against Chilli
Veinal Mottle Mosaic virus (CVMMV). A pot trial was carried out to find the induced defense
enzymes. Leaves of Bougainvilla spetabillis, Datura metal, and Mirabilis jalapa were used for this
study. Three methods of application viz, seed treatment, foliar spraying, and seed treatment with
foliar spraying were used. Peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, and phenol contents were
determined after the treatment. The highest peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase enzyme activity
was recorded in the application of Bougainvilla spetabillis in all application methods. Application
of Datura metal showed the highest phenol content. Seed treatment with foliar spraying showed
higher polyphenol oxidase enzyme activity than the other two method of applications in all plant
extracts tested. Higher phenol content was observed in the foliar spraying application method.
Application of all plant extracts tested induced the defense enzyme activity of chilli against
CVMMV.
