Open AccessInduced Responses in Phenolic Metabolism in Two Norway Spruce Clones after Wounding and Inoculations with Ophiostoma polonicum, a Bark Beetle-Associated Fungus
Author(s) -
Franck Brignolas,
Benoı̂t Lacroix,
François Lieutier,
Daniel Sauvard,
A. Drouet,
Anne-Catherine Claudot,
Annie Yart,
Alan A. Berryman,
Erik Christiansen
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
plant physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.554
H-Index - 312
eISSN - 1532-2548
pISSN - 0032-0889
DOI - 10.1104/pp.109.3.821
Subject(s) - picea abies , phloem , biology , botany , chalcone synthase , inoculation , ophiostoma , flavonoid , bark beetle , clone (java method) , glycoside , fungus , horticulture , biochemistry , gene , antioxidant , twig
Two Norway spruce (Picea abies Karst.) clones, one resistant and the other susceptible to mass inoculation with Ophiostoma polonicum Siem., were compared with regard to their phenolic compositions and chalcone synthase (CHS) and stilbene synthase activities of their phloem before and at 6 and 12 d after artificial inoculation with sterile malt agar or O. polonicum. In unwounded phloem, the resistant clone differed from the susceptible clone by the presence of taxifolin glycoside, lower concentrations of stilbene glycosides, and higher CHS activity. After inoculation, (+)-catechin concentration and CHS activity dramatically increased around the wound, particularly in the resistant clone. Stilbene synthase activity also increased, but more slowly and to a lower level, whereas the concentrations of stilbenes remained stable. Tanning ability decreased in the susceptible clone, whereas it remained stable in the resistant one. It is proposed that the induced phenolic response of Norway spruce phloem consists of an activation of the phenolic pathway, finally leading to tannins and insoluble polymers. It is suggested that resistance to O. polonicum depends on the ability of the tree to easily activate the flavonoid pathway.