Botanical treatment enhances biochemical responses in enset ( Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman) clones

Abstract Background Bacterial wilt of enset ( Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman) is a severe disease caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. musacearum , resulting in complete crop failure and considerable damage. This study assessed the biochemical responses of two enset clones (one resistant and one susceptible) when inoculated with the pathogen and treated with a crude leaf extract of Agarista salicifolia . Enset leaf samples were collected at various days post inoculation (DPI) from plants grown in the field, and the analyses included photosynthetic pigments, total nitrogen and protein, total soluble sugar, and total phenolics. Results Notable biochemical differences between treatments and clones diminished over time. At 120 DPI, the susceptible clone experienced a 31.17% decrease in chlorophyll a and over 35% losses in nitrogen and protein levels. In contrast, the resistant clone only showed minor declines, with less than 4% loss in nitrogen and protein content. At 270 DPI, the susceptible clone exhibited reductions in photosynthetic pigments of 20%–23%. The treated groups maintained higher levels of soluble sugars compared to the control throughout the sampling periods, but experienced a sharp decline after 5 DPI. Total phenolic content increased significantly at the first DPI, especially in the resistant clone, reaching levels twice that of the susceptible clone by the second and third DPI, peaking at 120 DPI. Conclusions The results offer critical insights into enset's defense mechanisms and stress responses. Further research to identify marker genes associated with resistance is crucial for improving disease management and breeding strategies.