The in vivo response of corn mitochondria to Bipolaris (Helminthosporium) maydis (race T) toxin |
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Authors: | CARL P MALONE RAYMOND J MILLER DAVID E KOEPPE |
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Institution: | Department of Botany, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, U.S.A.;Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station, Moscow, Idaho 83843, U.S.A.;Department of Agronomy, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, U.S.A. |
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Abstract: | The addition of 2-deoxyglucose to tissue elicits an in vivo mitochondrial conformation response (contraction) that can be viewed ultrastructurally and is indicative of the phosphorylative capability of mitochondria. Utilizing this technique toxin from Bipolaris (Helminthosporium) maydis race T was found to penetrate leaf and root tissue of Texas male-sterile cytoplasm corn (Zea mays L. W64A) only slowly, but once in cells the toxin had a rapid deleterious effect on mitochondrial function. It is concluded that B. maydis (race T) toxin has effects on in vivo mitochondria similar to those reported after in vitro experimentation and that mitochondria are a primary site of toxin action. These observations are followed by the suggestion that susceptibility or resistance to B. maydis (race T) is conferred in corn by a cytoplasmically inheritable character associated with mitochondria. |
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