Function of the photosynthetic apparatus of oilseed winter rape under elicitation by Phoma lingam phytotoxins in relation to carotenoid and phenolic levels

Stem canker (blackleg) caused by fungus Leptosphaeria maculans/L. biglobosa is one of the most damaging diseases of oilseed winter rape crops. Some winter oilseed rape varieties (Brassica napus L. var. oleifera 'Bojan', 'Lisek', 'Liclassic') that differ in blackleg resistance have been chosen for the experiment. In all tested cultivars during growth on a medium with a fungal elicitor, a distinct reduction in the length of the stems, the roots and the entire length of the seedlings was observed. However, only in the case of the 'Liclassic' cultivar, fresh and dry weight were reversibly affected during elicitation. The cultivar 'Liclassic', recognized as blackleg mildly resistant, was characterized by the most efficient photosynthetic apparatus under toxin elicitation. The efficient adaptation of photosynthetic apparatus in this cultivar was accompanied by an increase in the content of phenolics, chlorophyll and carotenoids. Only for 'Liclassic', did most of the measured parameters of chlorophyll fluorescence (F (v)'/F (m)', I broken vertical bar(PSII), q (P) and q (N)) exhibit a statistically significant correlation with regard to the level of carotenoids. Therefore, in'Liclassic', the observed increase in carotenoid content seems to be a significant biochemical factor which can raise the efficiency of the photosynthetic apparatus under elicitation by Phoma lingam toxins.