title: Water balance altered in cucumber plants infected with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum.
abstract: Fusarium wilt is caused by the infection and growth of the fungus Fusarium oxysporum in the xylem of host plants. The physiological responses of cucumbers that are infected with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum (FOC) was studied in pot and hydroponic experiments in a greenhouse. The results showed that although water absorption and stem hydraulic conductance decreased markedly in infected plants, large amounts of red ink accumulated in the leaves of infected cucumber plants. The transpiration rate (E) and stomatal conductance (gs) of the infected plants were significantly reduced, but the E/gs was higher than healthy plants. We further found that there was a positive correlation between leaf membrane injury and E/gs, indicating that the leaf cell membrane injury increased the non-stomatal water loss from infected plants. The fusaric acid (FA), which was detected in the infected plant, resulted in damage to the leaf cell membranes and an increase in E/gs, suggesting that FA plays an important role in non-stomatal water loss. In conclusion, leaf cell membrane injury in the soil-borne Fusarium wilt of cucumber plants induced uncontrolled water loss from damaged cells. FA plays a critical role in accelerating the development of Fusarium wilt in cucumber plants.
authors.affiliation: 1] Agricultural Ministry Key Lab of Plant Nutrition and Fertilization in Low-Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River [2] Jiangsu Key Lab and Engineering Center for Solid Organic Waste Utilization [3] Nanjing Agricultural University, 210095, China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Nanjing Agricultural University, 210095, China.
authors.forename: Yuming
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Nanjing Agricultural University, 210095, China.
authors.forename: Guomei
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Nanjing Agricultural University, 210095, China.
authors.forename: Xiaokang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Nanjing Agricultural University, 210095, China.
authors.forename: Luchong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhai
authors.affiliation: 1] Agricultural Ministry Key Lab of Plant Nutrition and Fertilization in Low-Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River [2] Jiangsu Key Lab and Engineering Center for Solid Organic Waste Utilization [3] Nanjing Agricultural University, 210095, China.
authors.forename: Qirong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: 1] Agricultural Ministry Key Lab of Plant Nutrition and Fertilization in Low-Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River [2] Jiangsu Key Lab and Engineering Center for Solid Organic Waste Utilization [3] Nanjing Agricultural University, 210095, China.
authors.forename: Shiwei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D018553:Cucumis sativus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D005669:Fusaric Acid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D005670:Fusarium / Q000502:physiology*; D008027:Light; D058503:Mesophyll Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D054046:Plant Stomata / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018526:Plant Transpiration / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D036226:Seedlings / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D013696:Temperature; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002241:Carbohydrates; D014867:Water; D005669:Fusaric Acid