Changes in Sapwood of Roots of Norway Spruce, Attacked by Fomes annosus

Abstract

Acetone extracts of sapwood and reaction zone of spruce roots attacked by Fomes annosus, collected in February, June and October, were separated into resinous and phenolic fractions. The fractions were further separated by column, thin layer and gas liquid chromatography, followed by biological tests, using Fomes annosus and other rot fungi. The reaction zone contained quantitatively less light petroleum soluble compounds than the sapwood but more acids. The phenolic content was about ten times higher in the reaction zone than in the sapwood. Nine lignans and one simple phenol (4‐methylcatechol) were identified and quantitatively estimated in the reaction zone. The resinous fraction of the extract from the reaction zone as well as some of the lignans and 4‐methylcatechol inhibited fungal growth, in some cases followed by detoxification and continued growth. The predominant lignan, hydroxymatairesinol, had no effect on Fomes annosus or five other wood degrading fungi. About 15 unidentified phenols were observed, some of them probably of importance as inhibitors, either alone or in combination with other phenols.

Infection of roots of Norway spruce (Picea abies) by Heterobasidion annosum

“…According to several authors, the light petroleum extractives range between 0.6-2.4 /o in the sapwood, 0.2-2.0% in the reaction zone, 0.04-2.5% in the H. tiwwoswm-decayed wood, and 0.8-2.3% in the heartwood on ad.wt basis (AGUINAGALDE and CERNY 1974;ALCUBILLA et al 1974;POPOFF et al 1975;EKMAN and VON WEISSENBERG 1979). Although obtained during the initial months of infection, our results agree approximately ith the values cited above.…”

“…Previous studies found that light petroleum extracts from the reaction zone inhibited H. annosum (POPOFF et al 1975;EKMAN 1980). In bioassays Norway spruce oleoresin also inhibited growth oi H. annosum (SHAIN 1971).…”

Identification and analysis of differentially expressed Heterobasidion parviporum genes during natural colonization of Norway spruce stems

“…, have different specificities, and that the activities of HpLcc2 and P450s are linked, both possibly participating in the degradation of lignin in a sequential manner. Pioneer studies (Shain, 1971;Shain and Hillis, 1971;Johansson and Theander, 1974;Popoff et al, 1975) showed that the reaction zone forming in Norway spruce against Heterobasidion is enriched with phenolics, particularly lignans, and that many of these compounds have a fungistatic but not deleterious effect against the pathogen. Using a bioassay, Popoff et al (1975) showed that presumably a laccase from H. annosum is able to detoxify some of the lignans from the reaction zone.…”

Studies on the infection of Norway spruce roots by Heterobasidion annosum

“…On the contrary, perennial plants and in particular conifers have been little studied in this respect. Concerning H. annositrn the only reports available discuss the infection process in bark and woody tissues of P. abies (Peek et al 1972;Popoff et al 1975;Johansson and Stenlid 1985;Stenlid and Johansson 1987;Lindberg and Johansson 1992) and Picea sitchensis (Woodward and Pearce 1988). However, for more detailed studies of physiological and structural responses to infection, such material is too complex and variable and also subject to stress influence.…”