The project A6
studies the host pathogen interaction of European beech with Phytophthora root pathogens.
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Phytophthora
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The
genus Phytophthora blongs to the oomycetes, fungal-like
organismns within the kingdom Chromista. Up to now, more than 60
different species of the genus Phytophthora
are known. All of them are plant pathogens.
Many Phytophthora species are
pathogens of woody plants.
Roots of European beech can be infected by several Phytophthora species. These soil
borne pathogens infect the fine roots of their hosts with zoospores,
chemically attracted by root exudates. In susceptible hosts Phytophthora can grow into the bark
of coarse roots and through the trunk into the bark of the stem.
| Symptoms
of Phytophthora
infection on European beech were already reported at the late 18th
century and one century later Robert Harting first discribed Phytophthora fagi (now used as
synonyme for P. cactorum) as the causal
agent damping off of beech seedlings (Hartig,
1880). |
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Objectives
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Phase I (1998-2001)
- Effects of different Phytophthora species on root rot,
nutrient uptake, gas-exchange and growth of European beech
- Influence of elevated CO2 and
increased nitrogen fertilisation on the Phytophthora citricola - European
beech interaction
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Phase II (2001-2004)
- Influence of elevated CO2 and
increased nitrogen fertilisation on the P. citricola - European beech
interaction (continued)
- Mechanistical understanding of symptom
developement in European beech after P.
citricola infection
- The role of the elicitin "citricolin" in
pathogenesis
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Phase III (2004-2007)
- The role of the elicitin "citricolin" in
pathogenesis (continued)
- Allocation of C- and N-metabolites in European
beech under elevated CO2 and after infection with P. citricola
- Allocation of C- and N-metabolites in European
beech under elevated O3 and after infection with P. citricola
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