Biochemical Changes in Sorghum Leaves Infected with Leaf Spot Pathogen, Drechslera sorghicola

The physiological changes in sorghum (Sorghum vulgare Pers.) leaves infected with Drechslera sorghicola were investigated through five recognizable stages of disease development. Water-soaked yellowish brown spots developed two days after inoculation, turned brown with yellow halo, enlarged and coalesced at later stages of disease development. Healthy and infected leaves were analyzed for different biochemical constituents. The chlorophyll contents were decreased significantly with the progress of infection. The levels of reducing and total sugars increased while non-reducing sugars decreased to a significant extent with the progress of disease. The concentration of total phenolics, orthodihydroxy phenols, free and glycosidic phenols showed significant changes due to infection, whereas basic and acid phenols showed little or no change with disease development. Levels of phenolic compounds increased four days after inoculation and decrease thereafter, but the concentration was higher at every stage of disease development relative to healthy tissues. Polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase enzyme activities increased to varying degrees at different stages of infection. Analysis of protein fractions showed a significant increase with the progress of disease.