A comparison between the changes in oxidants and antioxidants (involved in
defense mechanisms in plants against pathogens) in cowpea, eggplant, jasmine,
papaya and sour orange in response to infection with Meloidogyne incognita,
Rotylenchulus reniformis and Tylenchulus semipenetrans was held. Different hosts
react the same way to nematode infection, whereas oxidants, lipid peroxidase
(MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) were increased after nematode infection. Also
antioxidant substances, Glutathione (GSH) and ascorbic acid (AA) as well as
enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT) ,ascorbate peroxidase
(APX) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) were also increased. The rates of
increase differed according to nematode species, host plant and nematode initial
population.