The effect of sooty mold on fluorescence and gas exchange properties of olive tree

Authors : Sónia A.P. SANTOS, Conceição SANTOS, Sónia SILVA, Glória PINTO, Laura M. TORRES, António J.A. NOGUEIRA

Pages : 620-628

Doi:10.3906/biy-1301-81

View : 12 | Download : 3

Publication Date : 2013-12-01

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Sooty mold is a complex of dark-pigmented fungi that covers leaves and branches of the olive tree insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Olea europaea L.);. This coverage can bring several consequences for the plant, such as decrease of the photosynthetic rate. Therefore, this study aims to understand the effect of sooty mold on fluorescence and gas exchange of olive leaves. Olive leaves were field-collected and histological, physiological insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(water content, fluorescence parameters, and carbon dioxide fluxes);, and biochemical insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(osmolality; chlorophyll a, b, and a/b contents; and lipid peroxidation); analyses were performed in healthy leaves and in leaves covered with sooty mold. Histological analysis revealed a complex fungal hyphae proliferation on both leaf surfaces of covered leaves that predominated on the abaxial surface. Sooty mold-covered leaves showed significantly lower levels of water content and of basal insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(F0);, maximal insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Fm);, and variable fluorescence insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Fv);. The proliferation of the sooty mold resulted in a decrease of fluorescence parameters, foliar free gas exchanges, and water content. Based on these results, we can conclude that sooty mold infection could affect light reaching leaves and the normal physiological metabolism of the plant insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(as photosynthesis); would be affected, with consequences for production.
Keywords : Key words Sooty mold, Olea europaea, fluorescence, chlorophyll, gas exchange, CO2 flux, histology, lipid peroxidation