Rootstock x scion interactions on Theobroma cacao resistance to witches' broom: photosynthetic, nutritional and antioxidant metabolism responses

Cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) is one of the most important perennial crops in the world. In Brazil, the decrease in production in the last 25 years was caused by the entry and dissemination of witches' broom (WB) (Moniliophthora perniciosa Aime & Phillips-Mora) in the cacao region of Bahia, the main producing region of the country. This disease increases costs and reduces crop yields. The main objective of this study was to evaluate interactions between scion and rootstocks for WB resistance through gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence measurements, determinations of the activity of enzymes involved in the antioxidant metabolism and of macro and micronutrient concentration at the leaf level. The experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions using two cacao clones as rootstock, a tolerant (SCA-6) and a susceptible (SIC-876) to WB and CCN-51 as scion, a reference material due to tolerance to the disease, good productivity and high beans butter concentration. No grafted plants of SCA-6, SIC-876 and CCN-51 were used as controls. Were observed either in the grafted and non grafted genotypes that M. perniciosa infection provoked alterations in the photochemical and biochemical phases of photosynthesis, in activity of enzymes involved in the antioxidant metabolism and in macro and micronutrients concentrations. It was concluded that interactions between scion and rootstock in T. cacao made the scion more tolerant to M. perniciosa infection. SIC-876 rootstock, considered susceptible to WB, had a positive effect on the performance of CCN-51 graft with respect to tolerance to the disease. The higher tolerance of CCN-51 graft to WB, provided by the SIC -876 rootstock, was helped by the increased activity of ascorbate and guaiacol peroxidases, enzymes involved in the antioxidant metabolism.