CAT and infection: CAT activity decreased in leaves infected with Xa-CN51 and XaCN24 between 12 and 24 hpi, thus suggesting that SOD and CAT enzymes play important roles in sugarcane defense to infection by X. albilineans. Antioxidants SOD and CAT are crucial factors to modulate ROS scavenging and increased antioxidant activity is usually considered as a marker of reduced production and accumulation of H2O2 (Hong et al., 2021).