Phytotoxin Production in Bursaphelenchus xylophilus-Infected Pinus sylvestris.

Abstract

Our findings suggest that i) phytotoxic materials can be isolated from Bursaphelenchus xylophilus-infected Scots pine, but not from noninfected pines; ii) the phytotoxins cause wilting of 45-day-old and 2-year-old pine seedlings in a dose and species dependent manner; iii) the phytotoxins are produced early in the infection, accumulate or increase with time, and may function to suppress water transport in the tree; and iv) the phytotoxins are lipid materials of low molecular weight which are not acidic.