• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.149-155
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• 2012

A field trial was conducted in 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 growing seasons at Giza Agricultural Research Station to examine correlations between some biochemical componets and powdery mildews ($PM_s$) resistance in flax cultivars. Nine flax cultivars could be divided into five distinct groups, i.e., highly susceptible (Cortland and C.I. 2008), moderately susceptible (Giza 7, and Marshall), moderately resistant (Cass), resistant (Koto, Dakota and Wilden), and highly resistant (Ottowa 770B). The cultivars showed considerable variation in PM severity ranged from 8.05 on Ottowa 770B to 97.02% on Cortland. Total soluble proteins, total phenols, antioxidant enzymes (peroxidase and polyphenoloxidase), ascorbic acid, tocopherol, and malondialdehyde (MDA), were determined in uninfected leaves of the tested cultivars. Pearson's correlation coefficient was calculated to measure the degree of association between PM severity and each component. All components showed significant (P < 0.05) or highly significant (P < 0.01) negative correlation with PM severity except MDA, which showed positive correlation (P < 0.01). Linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the causal relationship between the biochemical components (independent variables) and PM severity (dependent variable). Coefficient of determination ($R^2$) values of the generated models ranged from 48.76 to 77.15%. Tocopherol, MDA, and proteins were the most important contributors to the total variation in PM severity as the $R^2$ values of their models were 71.78, 75.28, and 77.15%, respectively. The results of the present study suggest that tocopherol, MDA, and proteins in uninfected leaves can be used as biochemical markers to predict PM resistance in flax.