THE PHYSIOLOGY OF HOST–PARASITE RELATIONS: XI. THE EFFECT OF STEM RUST ON THE PHOSPHATE FRACTIONS IN WHEAT LEAVES

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Abstract
Inorganic, organic, and various organic phosphate fractions were determined in uninfected and infected first seedling leaves of Little Club wheat at various stages between 6 to 18 days after incubation with Puccinia graminis tritici Erikss. and Henn. (Race 15B). Inorganic (Pi), organic (Po), and total P per unit fresh weight increased as uninfected leaves aged and the levels of Pi were much more readily altered by changes in nutritional status and environmental conditions than the levels of Po. Infection increased total P and the highest concentrations occurred at the loci of rust pustules. Since the concentration of P was lower in uninfected portions of infected leaves than in comparable parts of uninfected leaves or in rust pustules, it appeared that P was transported into the pustules from uninfected parts of the leaf. Both Pi and Po were increased by infection, but the Pi/Po ratio was lowered. Acid-soluble bound P, easily hydrolyzable P, lipid P, RNA-P, and residual organic P were all increased by infection.When leaf pieces were infiltrated with and then floated on 10−4 M 2,4-dinitrophenol for 24 hours, the levels of all organic phosphate fractions were lowered and Pi was increased, both in uninfected and infected leaves. Dinitrophenol raised the Pi/Po ratio about 30% in uninfected and about 100% in infected leaves.The results militate against the view that the increase in respiration rate caused by infection is due to the uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation.