title: Impact of Laurel Wilt, Caused by Raffaelea lauricola, on Leaf Gas Exchange and Xylem Sap Flow in Avocado, Persea americana.
abstract: Laurel wilt, caused by Raffaelea lauricola, is a destructive disease of avocado (Persea americana). The susceptibility of different cultivars and races was examined previously but more information is needed on how this host responds to the disease. In the present study, net CO2 assimilation (A), stomatal conductance of H2O (gs), transpiration (E), water use efficiency (WUE), and xylem sap flow rates were assessed in cultivars that differed in susceptibility. After artificial inoculation with R. lauricola, there was a close relationship between symptom development and reductions in A, gs, E, WUE, and mean daily sap flow in the most susceptible cultivar, 'Russell', and significantly greater disease and lower A, gs, E, WUE, and sap flow rates were usually detected after 15 days compared with the more tolerant 'Brogdon' and 'Marcus Pumpkin'. Significant differences in preinoculation A, gs, E, and WUE were generally not detected among the cultivars but preinoculation sap flow rates were greater in Russell than in Brogdon and Marcus Pumpkin. Preinoculation sap flow rates and symptom severity for individual trees were correlated at the end of an experiment (r=0.46), indicating that a plant's susceptibility to laurel wilt was related to its ability to conduct water. The potential management of this disease with clonal rootstocks that reduce sap flow rates is discussed.
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Tropical Research and Education Center, 18905 SW 280th Street, Homestead 33031-3314.
authors.forename: Randy C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Ploetz
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schaffer
authors.forename: Ana I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Vargas
authors.forename: Joshua L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Konkol
authors.forename: Juanpablo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Salvatierra
authors.forename: Ronney
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wideman
mesh_terms: D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D008027:Light; D055155:Ophiostomatales / Q000502:physiology*; D027421:Persea / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D054046:Plant Stomata / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D018526:Plant Transpiration / Q000502:physiology*; D012621:Seasons; D013045:Species Specificity; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism; D052584:Xylem / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D014867:Water; D002245:Carbon Dioxide
keywords: hydraulic conductivity; xylem function