The Isolation and Properties of a Factor in Taro Tuber that Agglutinates Spores of Ceratocystis fimbriata, Black Rot Fungus

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Abstract
A factor which agglutinates spores of Ceratocystis fimbriata in the presence of Ca2+ was isolated from taro tuber (Corocasia esculenta Schott, cv. Shiro). The elemental composition of the isolated factor was as found by analysis: C (33.27%), H (4.27%), O (61.90%), N (0.56%); as calculated for C69H106O97N1: C (33.13%), H (4.27%), O (62.04%), N (0.56%). This factor is composed mainly of galacturonic acid (85% of its dry weight) and contains arabinose, fucose and an unidentified component as its minor components. The differential spore-agglutinating activity of this factor depends on the pH of the assay medium, differential agglutinating activity being present at pH 6.5 toward germinated spores of various strains of C. fimbriata. The differential agglutination of the spores of these strains changed with the growth stage: Ungerminated spores and hyphae of the strains tested were agglutinated to the same extent, whereas the germinated spores of these strains were agglutinated differently. When ungerminated and germinated spores of the strains were treated with pronase, Macerozyme or phospholipase D, their reactivity to the factor changed. Sonication also caused changes in the reactivity of the spores to the factor; germinated spores of the sweet potato strain became highly sensitive to it. Insensitivity to the factor was restored in sonicated spores incubated with a substance released from the spores during sonication. These results are discussed in relation to host-parasite specificity.

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