Sains Malaysiana 45(7)(2016): 1035–1040

Antioxidative Responses of Cocos nucifera against Infestation by the Red Palm Weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, a New Invasive Coconut Pest in Malaysia

(Tindak Balas Antioksida oleh Cocos nucifera terhadap Serangan Kumbang Merah Palma (RPW), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, Serangga Perosak Invasif Baharu Pokok Kelapa di Malaysia)

NORHAYATI, Y.*, WAHIZATUL AFZAN, A., SITI NOOR JANNAH, S.

& NURUL WAHIDAH, M.R.

School of Fundamental Science, Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Terenganu, 21030 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia

Received: 2 July 2014/Accepted: 30 January 2016

ABSTRACT

Interaction between the Red Palm Weevil (RPW) and coconuts will stimulate the plants’ early response by producing the reactive oxygen species (ROS) which causes lipid peroxidation and membrane damage of the host plants. Thus, a multiple defense lines, including both scavenging enzymes and molecular antioxidants have been evolved to promptly inactivate these radicals. This study investigated the responses of catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), α-tocopherol, ascorbic acid and carotenoids contents of three coconut cultivars which were PANDAN, MAWA and MATAG against the RPW infestation. The infested PANDAN and MAWA exhibited higher CAT, POD and APX specific activities of 2.60 ± 0.11, 5.0 ± 0.72 and 1.58 ± 0.20 units/mg protein for PANDAN whereas 1.13 ± 0.04, 39.38 ± 2.29 and 1.15 ± 0.16 units/mg, protein for MAWA) compared with controls. However, MATAG cultivar showed no significant difference (p<0.05) in the production of both enzymes except for POD specific activities. RPW infestations only managed to trigger the α-tocopherol concentrations in the MAWA cultivar compared with the others. Infested MAWA and MATAG increased the ascorbic acid concentrations, however, a contrast results was observed in infested PANDAN. All coconut cultivars exhibited higher carotenoids content (2771.20 ± 263.90, 3043.20 ± 526.35 and 921.20 ± 281.10 μg/g.fwt of PANDAN, MAWA and MATAG, respectively) compared with their respective controls (455.20 ± 135.10, 1408.40 ± 103.02 and 248.80 ± 110.39 μg/g.fwt). The above results indicated that the oxidative stress induced by the RPW infestation would stimulate the activities of enzymes and molecular antioxidants studied especially in infested MAWA. Thus, it may be suggested that MAWA cultivar was more tolerance towards RPW infestation compared to MATAG and PANDAN. It is hoped that this finding will provide clues on how plant respond toward stress during infestation, thus further action can be activated as soon as possible to control the spread of  R. ferrugineus.

Keywords: Antioxidants; coconut; enzymatic antioxidants; non-enzymatic; oxidative stress; red palm weevil

ABSTRAK

Interaksi antara Kumbang Merah Palma (RPW) dan pokok kelapa akan mencetuskan tindak balas awal tumbuhan dengan menghasilkan spesies oksigen reaktif (ROS) yang menyebabkan peroksidasi lipid dan kerosakan kepada membran pokok perumah. Sistem pertahanan tumbuhan antaranya enzim dan juga antioksidan telah bertindak balas untuk menyahaktifkan radikal ini. Kajian ini bertujuan mengkaji tindakbalas katalase, (CAT), peroksida (POD), askorbat peroksida (APX), α-tokoferol, asid askorbik dan kandungan karotenoid tiga kultivar kelapa (PANDAN, MAWA dan MATAG) terhadap serangan RPW. Pokok PANDAN dan MAWA yang diserang menunjukkan aktiviti spesifik enzim CAT, APX dan POD yang lebih tinggi iaitu 2.60 ± 0.11, 5.0 ± 0.72 dan 1.58 ± 0.20 unit/mg protein untuk PANDAN manakala 1.13 ± 0.04, 39.38 ± 2.29 dan 1.15 ± 0.16 unit/mg protein untuk MAWA berbanding dengan kawalan. Walau bagaimanapun, tiada perbezaan bererti (p<0.05) dalam penghasilan kedua-dua jenis enzim kecuali untuk aktiviti spesifik POD dalam kultivar MATAG. Serangan KPM hanya boleh mencetuskan kepekatan α-tokoferol di dalam kultivar MAWA berbanding dengan kultivar lain. Kandungan asid askorbik dalam kultivar MAWA dan MATAG yang diserang meningkat, walau bagaimanapun, keputusan yang sebaliknya didapati untuk kultivar PANDAN. Semua kultivar pokok kelapa yang telah diserang juga mengandungi kepekatan karotenoid yang lebih tinggi (2771.20 ± 263.90, 3043.20 ± 526.35 dan 921.20 ± 281.10 μg/g.fwt, masing-masing untuk PANDAN, MAWA dan MATAG) berbanding dengan kawalan (455.20 ± 135.10, 1408.40 ± 103.02 dan 248.80 ± 110.39 μg/g.fwt). Keputusan ini menunjukkan tegasan oksidatif yang terhasil daripada serangan KPM mencetuskan aktiviti enzim dan kandungan molekul antioksidan yang dikaji terutamanya dalam kultivar MAWA. Oleh itu, adalah dicadangkan bahawa kultivar MAWA adalah lebih rintang terhadap serangan RPW berbanding dengan kultivar MATAG dan PANDAN. Adalah diharapkan agar hasil kajian ini boleh memberikan gambaran bagaimana tindak balas tumbuhan terhadap serangan RPW, supaya tindakan seterusnya boleh diaktifkan sebaik-baik sahaja serangan berlaku untuk mengawal penyebaran R. ferrugineus.

Kata kunci: Antioksida; antioksida enzim; bukan-enzim; kelapa; kumbang merah palma; tegasan oksidatif

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*Corresponding author; email: yatiyusuf@umt.edu.my