Vol. 9, Special Issue 11, Part P (2025)

Pelota (PELO) is a conserved protein involved in various biological processes, including mRNA surveillance, cellular differentiation, and immune regulation. This study investigates the phenotypic and biochemical consequences of silencing the Pelota gene in tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum). Significant reductions in plant height and leaf length were observed in the Pelota-silenced group compared to control and TRV-EV groups. Specifically, the TRV-pelota group exhibited a mean plant height of 19±1 cm, significantly lower than the control group (24.5±0.5 cm, p<0.01) and TRV-EV group (23.5±0.5 cm, p<0.05). The leaf length was also significantly reduced in the TRV-pelota group (7.8±0.2 cm) compared to the control group (8.9±0.2 cm, p<0.01) and TRV-EV group (8.2±0.1 cm, p<0.05). Biochemically, increased activities of antioxidant enzymes were noted, with the TRV-pelota group exhibiting 4.0±0.5 mol UA/mg protein in Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), significantly higher than the control (2.5±0.4 mol UA/mg protein, p<0.05). Catalase (CAT) activity also showed a marked increase in the TRV-pelota group (1.1±0.2 mol H2O2 reduced mg protein⁻¹ min⁻¹, p<0.05) compared to the control (0.75±0.1 mol H2O2 reduced mg protein⁻¹ min⁻¹). No significant differences were found in the total phenol content across the groups (p>0.1). These findings suggest that Pelota plays a crucial role in regulating both plant growth and defense mechanisms, particularly in response to oxidative stress and pathogen resistance. The research provides insights into the potential of Pelota silencing for improving plant immunity and crop resilience, especially against biotrophic pathogens.