Nitrogen availability shapes anthracnose severity and defense-related responses in chili pepper (Capsicum annuum)
Issued Date
2026-01-01
Resource Type
ISSN
17429145
eISSN
17429153
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-105027025712
Journal Title
Journal of Plant Interactions
Volume
21
Issue
1
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Journal of Plant Interactions Vol.21 No.1 (2026)
Suggested Citation
Boonyaves K., Sanghirun J., Suwitchayanon P., Supaibulwatana K. Nitrogen availability shapes anthracnose severity and defense-related responses in chili pepper (Capsicum annuum). Journal of Plant Interactions Vol.21 No.1 (2026). doi:10.1080/17429145.2025.2611503 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/114526
Title
Nitrogen availability shapes anthracnose severity and defense-related responses in chili pepper (Capsicum annuum)
Author's Affiliation
Corresponding Author(s)
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Abstract
Fungal diseases threaten global food security, causing up to 40% yield losses. Nitrogen availability shapes plant immunity, yet the detailed morphological, physiological, and molecular understanding of its role in plant–pathogen interactions remains limited. We examined chili pepper infected with Colletotrichum fructicola under varying nitrogen supplies. Disease severity increased with higher nitrogen, with the largest lesions observed at 30 mM, while pigment levels were nitrogen-dependent. Lower leaves accumulated more nitrate, correlating with greater lesion expansion. Analysis of publicly available Arabidopsis datasets identified response to nitrogen compound, stress, and hormone signaling as conserved fungal responses. In chili pepper, expression analysis of selected genes involved in nitrogen metabolism, hormone signaling, and stress responses revealed induction of most genes, including WRKY25 and TT8, under low nitrogen upon infection. These findings suggest that nitrogen status is associated with changes in defense-related responses, highlighting nitrogen management as a potential factor influencing crop resilience to fungal pathogens.