Carbohydrate Catabolism in Populations of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus and in B. mucronatus

Authors

  • R. I. Bolla
  • P. Kozlowski
  • K. Fitzsimmons

Abstract

Genotypically different host specific pathotypes of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus have been identified. These pathotypes elicit different responses in pines depending on susceptibility, tolerance, or resistance. Continued passage of some of these pathotypes on fungal cultures leads to conversion to nonparasitic populations. These populations metabolize carbon substrates to ethanol by an anaerobic pathway, while operating some level of a phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP)-succinate pathway to excrete succinate-lactate and malate. On the other hand, parasitic populations metabolize glucose to lactate-succinate, mainly by a PEP-succinate pathway, and maintain redox balance through glycerol production. Ethanol and malate are not excreted by parasitic populations. Key words: alcohol dehydrogenase, Bursaphelenchus, carbohydrate metabolism, isocitrate lyase, lactic dehydrogenase, pathotype, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, Pinus nigra, P. strobus, P. sylvestris, pyruvate kinase, susceptibility, tolerance.

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Published

1988-04-15

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Section

Articles