Starch reserves in Piceaabies in relation to defence reaction against a bark beetle transmitted blue-stain fungus, Ceratocystispolonica
- 1 February 1986
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Canadian Science Publishing in Canadian Journal of Forest Research
- Vol. 16 (1) , 78-83
- https://doi.org/10.1139/x86-013
Abstract
Coniferous trees resist invasion of their phloem and xylem by microorganisms through an induced defence reaction; resin-filled reaction zones are formed around the infections to stop the intrusion. The efficacy of the reaction is supposedly dependent on an ample supply of carbohydrates. Two hypotheses were formulated: (i) phloem starch reserves are consumed by the defence reaction; (ii) trees low in phloem starch are vulnerable to infection. To test the hypotheses, stem sections of Picea abies trees were mass inoculated with a pathogenic blue-stain fungus, Ceratocystis polonica, associated with the spruce bark beetle Ips typographus. Stem starch concentration was manipulated through girdling. Mass inoculation lead to a significant decrease in phloem starch concentration. Starch reserves of single trees were not correlated to their resistance to infection. Translocation capacity of the phloem is suggested critical for the defence reaction.This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit:
- REACTIONS OF LODGEPOLE PINE TO ATTACK BY DENDROCTONUS PONDEROSAE HOPKINS AND BLUE STAIN FUNGICanadian Journal of Botany, 1967