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Plant Biol (Stuttg) 2005; 7(6): 640-649
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-872902
Research Paper

Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart KG · New York

Acclimation to Ozone Affects Host/Pathogen Interaction and Competitiveness for Nitrogen in Juvenile Fagus sylvatica and Picea abies Trees Infected with Phytophthora citricola

G. Luedemann1 , R. Matyssek1 , F. Fleischmann2 , T. E. E. Grams1
  • 1Department of Ecology, Ecophysiology of Plants, Technische Universität München, 85354 Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany
  • 2Department of Ecology, Pathology of Woody Plants, Technische Universität München, 85354 Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

Received: May 13, 2005

Accepted: September 5, 2005

Publication Date:
02 January 2006 (online)

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Abstract

In a two-year phytotron study, juvenile trees of European beech (Fagus sylvatica) and Norway spruce (Picea abies) were grown in mixture under ambient and twice ambient ozone (O3) and infected with the root pathogen Phytophthora citricola. We investigated the influence of O3 on the trees' susceptibility to the root pathogen and assessed, through a 15N-labelling experiment, the impact of both treatments (O3 exposure and infection) on belowground competitiveness. The hypotheses tested were that: (1) both P. citricola and O3 reduce the belowground competitiveness (in view of N acquisition), and (2) that susceptibility to P. citricola infection is reduced through acclimation to enhanced O3 exposure. Belowground competitiveness was quantified via cost/benefit relationships, i.e., the ratio of structural investment in roots relative to their uptake of 15N. Beech had a lower biomass acquisition and captured less 15N under enhanced O3 and P. citricola infection alone than spruce, whereas the latter species appeared to profit from the lower resource acquisition of beech in these treatments. Nevertheless, in the combined treatment, susceptibility to P. citricola of spruce was increased, while beech growth and 15N uptake were not further reduced below the levels found under the single treatments. Potential trade-offs between stress defence, growth performance, and associated nitrogen status are discussed for trees affected through O3 and/or pathogen infection. With respect to growth performance, it is concluded that O3 enhances susceptibility to the pathogen in spruce, but apparently raises the defence capacity in beech.

Key words

Ozone (O3) - European beech (Fagus sylvatica) - Norway spruce (Picea abies) - competition - pathogen resistance - N-15 labelling.

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G. Luedemann

Department of Ecology
Ecophysiology of Plants
Technische Universität München

Am Hochanger 13

85354 Freising-Weihenstephan

Germany

Email: gustavo.luedemann@mytum.de

Editor: H. Rennenberg