Response of antioxidative enzymes to long-term Tomato spotted wilt virus infection and virus elimination by meristem-tip culture in two Impatiens species

Ornamental plants Impatiens hawkerii and Impatiens walleriana are susceptible to Tomato spotted wilt virus infection that can be eradicated by meristem-tip propagation. Comparison of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) profiles of healthy, infected and virus-eliminated plants showed that long-term infection did not cause major changes in I. hawkerii, but caused induction of several APX and GPX isoforms, increase in Mn-SOD and APX and a decrease in CAT activity in I. walleriana. This is the first report on the effects of virus elimination by meristem-tip propagation on the antioxidative metabolism in plants.

► TSWV infection is persistent in Impatiens walleriana and Impatiens hawkerii grown in vitro.
► The virus can be effectively eliminated by meristem-tip culture in both species.
► Prolonged infection caused minor changes in antioxidative enzymes in I. hawkerii.
► Infected I. walleriana explained significant changes in all antioxidative enzymes.
► Meristem-tip culture caused major disturbances in I. walleriana enzymatic profiles.