ibclogo XVI International Botanical Congess


Abstract Number: 2868
Poster No. = 201


PIGMENTATION OF INFECTED CLADONIA


Fahselt, D., Krol, M., N. Huner, and Tonsberg, T., U. Western Ontario, London, Canada.


Cladonia species hosting the lichenicolous fungus Arthrorhaphis aeroginosa R. Sant. & Tonsberg exhibited abnormal blue-green color.To assess the biochemical basis for unusual coloration, pigments from healthy and diseased thallus regions were extracted, identified and compared quantitiatively using TLC, HPLC and spectrophotometric methods. Concentrations of b-carotene, an unidentified carotene, and two of four xanthophylls did not differ significantly in normal and diseased samples, but the remaining xanthophylls showed significant increases in infected regions of the thallus. Discoloration must have been caused by the polar blue-green pigment produced by the pathogen. Increased concentrations of chlorophyll a were observed in parasitized thallus parts and may also have contributed to the atypical blue-green color. No pigmented extracellular phenolics were detected in either diseased or normal thallus parts.


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