Abstract Detail

Symbioses: Plant, Animal, and Microbe Interactions

Dobson, Heidi [1], Daigneault, Justin [2], Judkins, Sarah [2].

The role of pollenkitt oils in the defense of pollen against pathogenic fungi.

Pollen of animal-pollinated plants typically have an oily coat (pollenkitt), to which a variety of roles have been ascribed, including the possible chemical defense of pollen against pathogens. The common grey mold, Botrytis cinerea, is a frequently encountered fungal phytopathogen (especially on fruit) that can infect plants through the flower, and thereby potentially pose a threat to pollen. We investigated whether pollenkitt of wild sunflower, Helianthus annuus, has any inhibitory effects on the mycelial growth and spore germination of B. cinerea, cultured on potato dextrose agar, through either direct contact (mixed into the agar) or exposure to its
volatiles (inverted lid method). In each case, whole pollen, pollenkitt, and washed pollen (pollenkitt removed) were tested at three concentrations, with six replicates each. None of the pollen samples clearly inhibited mycelial growth compared to control treatments; however, both pollenkitt and whole pollen significantly reduced spore germination when tested in direct contact and as volatiles, whereas washed pollen had no effect. The findings indicate that chemicals in the oily pollenkitt, including volatiles, can inhibit fungal pathogens, and confirm that pollenkitt can serve in pollen defense against pathogens.

Broader Impacts:

1 - Whitman College, Department of Biology, Walla Walla, WA, 99362, USA
2 - Whitman College, Walla Walla, WA , 99362

Keywords:
pollen
plant-fungal interactions
volatiles.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Topics
Session: 14
Location: 553B/Convention Center
Date: Monday, August 2nd, 2010
Time: 1:45 PM
Number: 14002
Abstract ID:276