Role of cell wall degrading enzymes in the interaction of poplar and Melampsora larici-populina Kleb.

Abstract

The activity of cell wall-degrading enzymes, produced in poplar cultivars infected Melampsora laricipopulina Kleb., was studied. The results show that PMG, PMTE, CX and β-glucosidase played roles during the infection. After inoculation, the activity of PMG in both susceptible and resistant cultivars had two peak values in 2 dpi and 5 dpi. The activities of PMTE and β-glucosidase had a peak value in 3 dpi, and CX in 2 dpi. Among these cell wall-degrading enzymes, the activities of PMG and PMTE were higher and the activities of CX and β-glucosidase were relatively lower. The activities of these cell wall-degrading enzymes were significantly higher in susceptible cultivars than those in resistant cultivars. All these demonstrated that these cell wall-degrading enzymes played certain roles in the infection of M. larici-populina.