Abstract
Brassica campestris was infected with the angiosperm parasite,Cuscuta reflexa, on 24 DAS (days after sowing). A significant reduction (43%) in carbon dioxide assimilation in leaves was found compared to normal plant, when both were assayed on 38 DAS. At this stage, the chloroplast lipid in infected leaves had decreased by 34%, with a reduction of 13, 38 and 55%, respectively, in neutral, glyco- and phospholipids. Among the glycolipids, the decrease in the content of MGDG, DGDG and SQDG was 21, 67 and 44%, respectively, with 2.4-fold increase in the MGDG/DGDG ratio. The chlorophyll content was reduced by 24%, while the carotenoid level increased by 44%. The free fatty acid content was enhanced by 47% which may be attributed to an increase in lipase activity. The contents of saturated fatty acids (capric, lauric, myristic, palmitic and stearic) increased while the contents of unsaturated fatty acids (palmitoleic, oleic, linoleic and linolenic) decreased. The ratio of unsaturated to saturated fatty acids decreased over 50%. These findings may suggest chloroplasts as reactive sites of the host-parasite interaction in case of the angiosperm parasite.
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