Host-Pathogen Interactions: XII. Response of Suspension-cultured Soybean Cells to the Elicitor Isolated from Phytophthora megasperma var. sojae, a Fungal Pathogen of Soybeans

The glucan elicitor isolated from the mycelial walls of Phytophthora megasperma var. sojae, the fungus which causes stem and root rot in soybeans, stimulates the activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and the accumulation of glyceollin in suspension-cultured soybean cells. Nigeran, a commercially available fungal wall glucan, was the only other compound tested which has any activity in this system. Glyceollin is a phenylpropanoid-derived phytoalexin which is toxic to P. megasperma var. sojae. Evidence is presented to support the hypothesis that the action of elicitors in stimulating phytoalexin synthesis is not species or variety specific but, rather, is part of a general defensive response of plants.     

Release of a Soluble Phytoalexin Elicitor from Mycelial Walls of Phytophthora megasperma var. sojae by Soybean Tissues

A soluble elicitor of glyceollin accumulation was released from insoluble mycelial walls of Phytophthora megasperma var. sojae after incubation with soybean cotyledon tissue for as little as 2 minutes. Various enzymic and chemical treatments of the released elicitor indicated that the activity resided in a carbohydrate moiety, and gel filtration disclosed the presence of at least two active molecular species. Cell-free extracts from soybean cotyledons or hypocotyls also released soluble elicitors from fungal cell walls that were similar to those released by living cotyledon tissue. These results may suggest that contact of fungal pathogens with host tissues is required to release fungal wall elicitors which then initiate phytoalexin accumulation in the plant.     

Host-Pathogen Interactions: X. Fractionation and Biological Activity of an Elicitor Isolated from the Mycelial Walls of Phytophthora megasperma var. sojae

An elicitor of phytoalexin production in soybean (Glycine max L.) tissues was isolated from purified Phytophthora megasperma var. sojae mycelial walls by a heat treatment similar to that used to solubilize the surface antigens from the cell walls of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The wall-released elicitor is a discrete, minor portion of the P. megasperma var. sojae mycelial walls. The elicitor released from the mycelial walls was divided by diethylaminoethylcellulose and concanavalin A-Sepharose chromatography into four fractions, each having different chemical characteristics. The four fractions were obtained from each of the three races of P. megasperma var. sojae. The corresponding fractions from each of the three races are very similar in composition and elicitor activity. The results suggest that the elicitor activity of each fraction resides in the glucan component of the fraction. Evidence is presented to demonstrate that the elicitors are not race-specific and that the accumulation of glyceollin is not sufficient to account for race-specific resistance.     

Host-Pathogen Interactions: IX. Quantitative Assays of Elicitor Activity and Characterization of the Elicitor Present in the Extracellular Medium of Cultures of Phytophthora megasperma var. sojae

Resistance of soybean (Glycine max L.) seedlings to Phytophthora megasperma var. sojae (Pms) is in part due to the accumulation in infected tissue of a compound which is toxic to Pms. The accumulation of this compound, a phytoalexin called glyceollin, is triggered by infection, but it can also be triggered by molecules, “elicitors,” present in cultures of Pms. The ability of the Pms elicitor to stimulate phytoalexin accumulation in soybean tissues has been used as the basis for biological assays of elicitor activity. Two bioassays were developed and characterized in this study of the Pms elicitor. These bioassays use the cotyledons and the hypocotyls of soybean seedlings. The cotyledon assay was used to characterize the extracellular Pms elicitor. This elicitor was isolated from Pms cultures and purified by ion exchange and molecular sieving chromatography. The extracellular Pms elicitor was determined to be a predominantly 3-linked glucan, which is similar in composition and structure to a polysaccharide component of Pms mycelial walls.     

Immediate Activation of Respiration in Petroselinum crispum L. in Response to the Phytophthora megasperma f. sp. Glycinea Elicitor

Treatment of parsley (Petroselinum crispum L.) cell cultures with the Phytophthora megasperma elicitor isolated from the fungus Phytophthora megasperma f. sp. Glycinea caused an immediate increase in the rate of respiratory CO2 evolution in the dark. The respiratory response was biphasic, showing a rapid enhancement in the first 20 min and then a slower increase until a steady rate was attained 60 min posttreatment. The enhanced rate of CO2 evolution corresponded to the activation of phosphofructokinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, key enzymes in the regulation of carbohydrate flow to glycolysis and the oxidative pentose phosphate (OPP) pathway, respectively. The increased rate of CO2 evolution and the activation of phosphofructokinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were maintained for the duration of the experiments, indicating long-term stimulation of respiration through both glycolysis and the OPP pathway. A 23% decrease in the C6:C1 ratio of 14CO2 evolution from labeled glucose 60 min after the addition of Phytophthora megasperma elicitor is consistent with an increased contribution of the OPP pathway to cellular respiration. Long-term activation of the OPP pathway following elicitation could serve to maintain the pools of substrates necessary during activation of the shikimic acid pathway, leading to the production of defensive compounds.     

A Comparison of Soybean Agglutinin in Cultivars Resistant and Susceptible to Phytophthora megasperma var. sojae (Race 1)

The amount of soybean agglutinin (SBA) detectable by radioimmunoassay in seeds of resistant cultivars to Phytophthora megasperma var. sojae was approximately twice that of susceptible cultivars. SBA was preferentially released at earlier times (6-9 hours) and in higher amounts in the imbibate from resistant cultivars as compared to susceptible cultivars. The lectin in the imbibate was immunologically identical to the seed lectin, indicating little or no proteolysis had occurred, and was active in hemagglutination. Binding of fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled SBA to mycelial cell walls could be abolished by adding N-acetyl galactosamine or galactose. Purified SBA at concentrations of 150 to 300 micrograms inhibited mycelial growth by 50%, and the imbibate from Govan (resistant) cultivar was more inhibitory than the imbibate from Shore (susceptible) cultivar. Removal of SBA from the imbibate by affinity chromatography abolished the inhibition of mycelial growth, but the inhibition could be recovered from the eluant containing lectin.     

Phytoalexin Elicitor Activity of Carbohydrates from Phytophthora megasperma f.sp. glycinea and Other Sources

Three unique classes of carbohydrates were isolated from the hyphal cell walls of Phytophthora megasperma f.sp. glycinea (Pmg) and compared with other substances for their activity as elicitors of the phytoalexin glyceollin in soybean tissues. Glucomannans extracted from cell walls with soybean β-1,3-endoglucanase were purified and proved to be the most active elicitors yet reported. They were approximately 10 times more active in soybean cotyledons than the heterogeneous β-glucan elicitor fraction extracted from Pmg walls. In addition, the glucomannan fraction gave race-specific elicitor activity in soybean hypocotyls. Pronase was found to be a suitable reagent for the mild extraction of glycopeptides from Pmg cell walls. All of the carbohydrates isolated from Pmg cell walls possessed significant elicitor activity, but other glucans, a glucomannan and mannan from other sources, were much less active. Chitin and chitosan, reported to function as elicitors in other plants, had low activity in soybean cotyledons. Arachidonic acid was inactive, despite its previously observed elicitor activity in potato tubers. The results indicated that, for Pmg, the carbohydrate elicitor most probably involved in the initiation of phytoalexinmediated defense during fungus infection of soybean plants is the glucomannan fraction liberated by endoglucanase.     

Wound-Associated Competency Factors Are Required for the Proximal Cell Responses of Soybean to the Phytophthora sojae Wall Glucan Elicitor

Intact soybean (Glycine max L. [Merr.]) tissues show distinct proximal and distal cell responses to the Phytophthora sojae (Kauf. and Gerde.) wall glucan elicitor. Proximal cells respond with accumulations of glyceollin and phenolic polymers, whereas distal cells respond with an increase of isoflavone conjugates. Comparison of the activities of the P. sojae glucan in the classical cut cotyledon and a cotyledon infiltration assay suggests that the proximal, but not the distal, responses to elicitor require tissue wounding. Washing the surface of cut cotyledons prior to elicitor treatment also greatly diminishes the proximal responses, which can be restored in a dose-dependent manner by prior treatment of the washed cells with wound exudate from cut "donor" cotyledons. Thus, discrete wound-associated factors, which we term elicitation competency factors, are required for the proximal cell response to the glucan elicitor. The wound factors induce a competent state that is transient in nature. Maximal elicitor response is seen 2 to 3 h after wounding, and cells become elicitor nonresponsive after 4 h. Competency is markedly affected by the age of tissues; cotyledons become more inherently competent as they approach senescence. The time course of attainment of the competent state and its duration are strongly affected by light and temperature. Since the wound-associated competency factors can also be obtained from washings of hypersensitive lesions, we hypothesize that similar competency factors may be released from hypersensitively dying cells in incompatible infections. This event may program the immediately surrounding cells to make them competent for the proximal defense responses.     

Responses of Cultured Tobacco Cells to Cryptogein, a Proteinaceous Elicitor from Phytophthora cryptogea: Possible Plasmalemma Involvement

In culture, the phytopathogenic fungus Phytophthora cryptogea secretes a protein which elicits hypersensitive-like necroses and protects tobacco plants against invasion by the pathogen Phytophthora parasitica var. nicotianae. This protein, named cryptogein, has been purified and its amino acid sequence determined. In this work, we studied the effect of cryptogein on tobacco cell suspension cultures. Cryptogein was lethal at about 0.10 micromolar. When added at sublethal doses, it elicited the production of ethylene and phytoalexins. It also induced a rapid increase in pH and conductivity of the extracellular medium without affecting the integrity of the plasma membrane. Cryptogein reduced the fusicoccin-induced acidification of the extracellular medium. The concentration which inhibited the fusicoccin response by 50% was 0.8 nanomolar, while 1 micromolar erythrosine B, an ATPase inhibitor, was needed to produce the same inhibition. However, cryptogein did not inhibit the activity of a purified plasma membrane ATPase. Results of binding studies with whole cells suggested the presence of elicitor-binding sites with a high affinity for cryptogein. The involvement of the plasma membrane during the initial interaction between elicitor and cells is discussed.     

Chemotactic Preferences and Strain Variation in the Response of Phytophthora sojae Zoospores to Host Isoflavones

The zoospores of Phytophthora sojae are chemotactically attracted to the isoflavones genistein and daidzein that are released by soybean roots. In this study we have examined the response of P. sojae zoospores to a wide range of compounds having some structural similarity to genistein and daidzein, including isoflavones, flavones, chalcones, stilbenes, benzoins, benzoates, benzophenones, acetophenones, and coumarins. Of 59 compounds examined, 43 elicited some response. A comparison of the chemotactic responses elicited by the various compounds revealed a primary role for the phenolic 4(prm1)- and 7-hydroxyl groups on the isoflavone structure. A few compounds acted as repellents, notably methylated flavones with a hydrophobic B ring. The chemotactic response to many of the analogs was markedly different among different strains of P. sojae.     

Virulence of Phytophthora sojae in the Pampeana Subregion of Argentina from 1998 to 2004

Phytophthora root rot is one of the most serious diseases of soybeans in Argentina. Surveys of commercial fields and trial plots of soybean were conducted throughout the northern Pampeana subregion (Argentina) between 1998 and 2004. A total of 193 isolates of Phytophthora sojae were collected and classified into races or virulence formulae. Among the 173 isolates tested on 8 differentials, 42 different pathotypes were detected, including 18 described races. Races 1, 4, 5, 7, 9, 13, 23 and 24 were found in both plants and soils, whereas races 2, 3, 6, 8, 11, 14, 15, 17, 43 and 44 were only isolated from plants. An additional 19 pathotypes were described from 20 isolates tested in Canada on the expanded set of 14 differential cultivars. Currently, all Rps genes/alleles associated with resistance have been defeated, indicating an increased complexity of virulence within the P. sojae populations in the region. The great increase in virulence complexity found in this study is most likely a result of a long period of continuous production of soybean cultivars with Rps genes and the extensive adoption of the no‐tillage system.     

Resistance to Phytophthora fragariae var. fragariae in strawberry: the Rpf2 gene

  Phytophthora fragariae var. fragariae is the causal agent of red stele (red core) root rot in strawberry (Fragaria spp.). The inheritance of resistance to one isolate of this fungus was studied in 12 segregating populations of F.×ananassa derived from crosses between four resistant cultivars (‘Climax’, ‘Redgauntlet’, ‘Siletz’, and ‘Sparkle’) and three susceptible cultivars (‘Blakemore’, ‘Glasa’, and ‘Senga’ Sengana’). The analysis clearly supports the hypothesis of a single segregating dominant resistance gene. It is proposed that this gene be designated Rpf2. Received 12 November 1996 / Accepted: 22 November 1996     

大豆疫霉对寄主大豆和非寄主菜豆根及根分泌物的响应与其对寄主选择性的关系

【背景】大豆疫霉根腐病作为大豆生产上的一种毁灭性病害已被美国、加拿大等多国报道,其病原菌大豆疫霉(Phtophthora sojae Kaufmann and Gerdemann)为典型的土传病原菌。近年来,土传病原菌与植物根系的互作成为研究土传病原菌寄主选择机制的主要方向。【目的】探究寄主大豆和非寄主菜豆根及根分泌物对大豆疫霉的不同影响,阐明这种影响与大豆疫霉对寄主选择的关系。【方法】应用原位土培法种植大豆疫霉感病品种Sloan、抗病品种Williams82和非寄主菜豆一点红,测定了单个大豆疫霉游动孢子对寄主大豆和非寄主菜豆幼根的侵染行为,收集了寄主及非寄主根分泌物,测定了根分泌物对大豆疫霉游动孢子的趋化作用,包括吸引游动孢子的能力以及对游动孢子成囊、孢囊萌发和芽管生长的影响。【结果】大豆疫霉单个游动孢子对寄主大豆幼根表现强烈趋向性,沿着根面进行多次试探性接触后在根尖伸长区快速成囊并萌发,产生的芽管顶端贴附在幼根表面,在感病大豆品种根面上的芽管比抗病大豆品种上的短且粗,而对非寄主菜豆幼根则不具有趋向性,接触一次后即远离,最终在距离幼根75μm的位置成囊萌发,且芽管生长不具有方向性。此外,大豆疫霉游动孢子对抗病、感病大豆和非寄主菜豆幼根的侵染行为差异完全在根分泌物试验中重现,即寄主大豆根分泌物对大豆疫霉游动孢子具有较强的趋向作用,能够有效吸引游动孢子,促进游动孢子快速成囊及萌发,抑制芽管的伸长,而非寄主菜豆根分泌物不具有上述作用。【结论】大豆疫霉对寄主的选择性与根分泌物有关,为进一步了解大豆疫霉的寄主选择机制提供理论依据。     

Race:cultivar-specific induction of enzymes related to phytoalexin biosynthesis in soybean roots following infection with Phytophthora megasperma f. sp. glycinea

Primary roots of soybean [Glycine max (L.), cv Harosoy 63] seedlings were inoculated with zoospores from either race 1 (incompatible, host resistant) or race 3 (compatible, host susceptible) of Phytophthora megasperma f. sp. glycinea (Pmg) and the activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), chalcone synthase (CHS), isoflavone synthase, and dihydroxypterocarpan 6a-hydroxylase related to phytoalexin (glyceollin) biosynthesis, and of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (Glc-6-PDH) and glutamate dehydrogenase (Glu-DH) were determined at various times after inoculation. About 2-4 h after inoculation with race 1, the activities of PAL, CHS, and pterocarpan 6a-hydroxylase were higher than after inoculation with race 3 and increased considerably thereafter. In contrast, activities of these enzymes in the compatible interaction were equal to or only slightly higher than in the controls over the entire infection period investigated (2-8 h). Isoflavone synthase did not increase until 7 h after inoculation with race 1. There were no significant differences in activities for Glc-6-PDH and Glu-DH between inoculated roots and controls. The results show that infection of soybean roots with zoospores of Pmg race 1 causes a race:cultivar-specific early induction of enzymes involved in glyceollin synthesis, whereas such an induction does not occur with zoospores of race 3. These findings are in agreement with the race:cultivar-specific accumulation of glyceollin in soybean roots reported previously [M. G. Hahn, A. Bonhoff, and H. Grisebach (1985) Plant Physiol. 77, 591-601].     

Isolation of sealed plasma membrane vesicles from Phytophthora megasperma f. sp. glycinea: II. Partial characterization of Ca2+ transport and glyceollin effects

Calcium uptake was examined in sealed plasma membrane vesicles isolated from the plant pathogenic fungus, Phytophthora megasperma f. sp. glycinea. Calcium uptake was ATP-dependent and by the addition of various ionophores in the presence of ATP, it was shown that Ca2+ transport was mediated by a nH+/Ca2+ antiport. Further evidence for this antiport mechanism included Ca2+ uptake driven by an imposed pH gradient and the observation that calcium could dissipate a steady-state pH gradient across the vesicle membrane. Transport mediated by the nH+/Ca2+ antiport was optimal at pH 7.0, and demonstrated saturation kinetics for Ca2+ with a Km of about 7 microM. Glyceollin, a soybean phytoalexin, was found to inhibit Ca2+ transport consistent with its ability to increase H+ conductance. In the presence of glyceollin, calcium leakage from Phytophthora membrane vesicles also increased. This study provides basic information about calcium transport in a plant pathogenic fungus as well as demonstrating a possible mode of action of a phytoalexin.     

Quantitative Localization of the Phytoalexin Glyceollin I in Relation to Fungal Hyphae in Soybean Roots Infected with Phytophthora megasperma f. sp. glycinea

A radioimmunoassay specific for glyceollin I was used to quantitate this phytoalexin in roots of soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr. cv Harosoy 63) after infection with zoospores of either race 1 (incompatible) or race 3 (compatible) of Phytophthora megasperma Drechs. f. sp. glycinea Kuan and Erwin. The sensitivity of the radioimmunoassay and an inmmunofluorescent stain for hyphae permitted quantitation of phytoalexin and localization of the fungus in alternate serial cryotome sections from the same root. The incompatible interaction was characterized by extensive fungal colonization of the root cortex which was limited to the immediate vicinity of the inoculation site. Glyceollin I was first detected in extracts of whole roots 2 hours after infection, and phytoalexin content rose rapidly thereafter. Significant concentrations of glyceollin I were present at the infection site in cross-sections (42 micrometers thick) of such roots by 5 hours, and exceeded 0.6 micromoles per milliliter (EC₉₀in vitro for glyceollin I) by 8 hours after infection. Longitudinal sectioning (14 micrometers thick) showed that glyceollin I accumulated particularly in the epidermal cell layers, but also was present in the root cortex at inhibitory concentrations. No hyphae were observed in advance of detectable levels of the phytoalexin and, in most roots, glyceollin I concentrations dropped sharply at the leading edge of the infection. In contrast, the compatible interaction was characterized by extensive unchecked fungal colonization of the root stele, with lesser growth in the rest of the root. Only small amounts of glyceollin I were detected in whole root extracts during the first 14 hours after infection. Measurable amounts of glyceollin I were detected only in occasional cross-sections of such roots 11 and 14 hours after infection. The phytoalexin was present at inhibitory concentrations in the epidermal cell layers, but the inhibitory zone did not extend appreciably into the cortex. Altogether, these data support the hypothesis that the accumulation of glyceollin I is an important early response of soybean roots to infection by P. megasperma, but may not be solely responsible for inhibition of fungal growth in the resistant response.     

The Structure of Plant Cell Walls: II. The Hemicellulose of the Walls of Suspension-cultured Sycamore Cells

The molecular structure, chemical properties, and biological function of the xyloglucan polysaccharide isolated from cell walls of suspension-cultured sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) cells are described. The sycamore wall xyloglucan is compared to the extracellular xyloglucan secreted by suspension-cultured sycamore cells into their culture medium and is also compared to the seed “amyloid” xyloglucans.