Susceptibility of the most popular soybean cultivars in south-east Europe to Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid

Oxidative stress in soybean seedlings and the length of the soybean stem lesions infected with the fungus Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid were evaluated to determine the most tolerant soybean cultivar to this pathogen. The level of superoxide anion radical production, the activity of the antioxidant enzyme superoxide-dismutase (SOD), and the intensity of lipid peroxidation
(LP) were measured in four soybean cultivars: Favorit, Atlas, Victoria, and Rubin. Results showed that superoxide anion radical production and SOD activity were the most elevated in the cv. Favorit inoculated with M. phaseolina, while the level of lipid peroxidation intensity was the lowest compared to the control. This indicates that the soybean cv. Favorit has managed to prevent infection with M. phaseolina. Furthermore, higher superoxide anion radical production and lower SOD enzyme activity were measured in cv. Victoria, with enhanced lipid peroxidation. This means that the cv. Victoria was infected with M. phaseolina, and was the most sensitive. None of the tested oxidative stress parameters showed a significant difference in the cvs. Atlas and Rubin compared to the control. Furthermore, the highest lesion length was measured in the cv. Victoria, followed by cv. Favorit, while the lowest lesion length was measured in cv. Atlas followed by cv. Rubin; and thus, the cv. Atlas followed by cv. Rubin, were the most tolerant soybean cultivars to this pathogen.