ANTIOXIDATIVE AS SELF-DEFENSE DURING RED PALM WEEVIL INFESTATION IN COCONUT CULTIVAR “MAWA”

The coconut industry ranks fourth in economic importance but the Red Palm Weevil (RPW) creates a major danger, decreasing coconut production. The “MAWA” cultivar, favoured by farmers faces this challenge. This study investigated the plant’s defence mechanisms during RPW infestation, focusing on enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants. Infested leaves of “MAWA” showed lower CAT, APX, and gPOD activities in front and middle fronds but higher in end fronds than controls. α-tocopherol and ascorbic acid increased significantly in the front and middle fronds of infested plants, respectively while carotenoids rose in the middle fronds. Infested leaves exhibited lower MDA, H2O2, and ion leakage, suggesting enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants’ defensive roles during RPW infestation. MDA, H2O2, and ion leakage could be early RPW infestation markers in coconuts. This study sheds light on how “MAWA” cultivars deploy enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defences during RPW attacks, potentially aiding in the early detection of infestations.