Young plants of Quercus robur L. were infected with the root pathogen Phytophthora quercina Physiological investigations showed a significant reduction of the net photosynthesis rate, the transpiration rate and the water vapour conductivity. Again the measurement of chlorophyll fluorescence under illumination indicated significantly lower values for young infected oak saplings compared to control plants. The morphological damage of the root systems studied in parallel to the physiological investigations showed a clear reduction of Root Length Density (RLD) and Root Tip Density (RTD). The lower RLD of infected root systems was due to a loss of fine roots (0-1.5 mm diameter). During the inoculation experiment, the infection of the roots was verified by means of ELISA. Light- and electron microscopic investigations of young oak roots demonstrated severe histological and cellular damage within a few days after the infection. On penetration sites, the plant cell walls were perforated. Aggregations of cytoplasm with cell organelles were observed near the penetration sites. Sometimes, the plasmalemma was separated from the cell wall. The plant cytoplasm became electron dense. Structural defence reactions were observed. Investigations of oak root extracts by means of HPLC showed a high content of the phenols catechin and gallocatechin in infected roots. The infection by Phytophthora induced the formation of PR-proteins. Basic and acidic chitinases, basic beta-1,3-glucanases and extra-cellular osmotines were shown to be produced in larger amounts in infected than in healthy roots. Furthermore, the secretion and localization of the P. quercina elicitin quercinin were investigated. Quercinin was detected by means of ELISA in parallel to mycelium growth. By fluorescence and immunogoldlabelling of microscopic root sections, quercinin was localized within hyphal cell walls during the infection process.
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Young plants of Quercus robur L. were infected with the root pathogen Phytophthora quercina Physiological investigations showed a significant reduction of the net photosynthesis rate, the transpiration rate and the water vapour conductivity. Again the measurement of chlorophyll fluorescence under illumination indicated significantly lower values for young infected oak saplings compared to control plants. The morphological damage of the root systems studied in parallel to the physiological invest...
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