Abstract
When the ectomycorrhizal fungus Cenococcum geophilum changes from a saprophytic to a symbiotic stage, its cell wall structure becomes simplified. The external hyphal wall layer which, in the saprophytic stage, is highly reactive to the Gomori-Swift test becomes poorly reactive and can no longer be distinguished from the internal wall layer in the Hartig net hyphae. The intensely stained external wall layer was also absent from pure cultures of Cenococcum geophilum grown on a medium with a low sugar content. This cell wall alteration could be due to a decrease in the amount of melanin or of melanin plus cystine-containing proteins. This change may be necessary for increased nutrient exchange between symbionts through hyphal walls.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aldington S, McDougall GJ, Fry SC (1991) Structure-activity relationships of biologically active oligosaccharides. Plant Cell Environ 14: 625–636
Bonfante-Fasolo P (1988) The role of the cell-wall as a signal in mycorrhizal associations. In: Scannerini S, Smith DC, Bonfante-Fasolo P, Gianinazzi-Pearson V (eds) Cell to cell signals in plants animal and microbiol symbiosis. NATO ASI Series, vol 17. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 219–235
Bonfante-Fasolo P, Gianinazzi-Pearson V (1986) Wall and plasmalemma modifications in mycorrhizal symbiosis. In: Gianinazzi-Pearson V, Gianinazzi S (eds) Physiological and genetical aspects of mycorrhizae. INRA, Paris, pp 65–73
Dexheimer J, Pargney JC (1991) Comparative anatomy of the host-fungus interface in mycorrhizas. Experientia 47: 312–321
Dixon RA, Lamb CJ (1990) Molecular communications in interactions between plants and microbiol pathogens. Annu Rev Plant Physiol Plant mol Biol 41: 339–367
Duchesne L (1989) Protein synthesis in Pinus resinosa and the ectomycorrhizal fungus Paxillus involutus prior the ectomycorrhiza formation. Trees 3: 73–77
Freytag S, Mendgen K (1991) Surface carbohydrates and cell wall structure of in vitro induced ured spore infection structures of Uromyces viciae-fabae before and after treatment with enzymes and alkali. Protoplasma 161: 94–103
Gomori G (1946) The study of enzymes in tissue sections. Ann J Clin Path 16: 347–359
Guillot J, Genaud L, Gueugnot J, Damez M (1983) Purification and properties of two hemagglutinins of the mushroom Laccaria amethystina. Biochemistry 22: 5365–5369
Halverson LJ, Stacey G (1986) Signal exchange in plant-microbe interactions. Microbiol Rev 50: 193–225
Howard RJ, Ferrari MA (1989) Role of melanin in appressorium function. Exp Mycol 13: 403–418
Lapeyrie F, Mendgen K (1993) Quantitative estimation of the surface carbohydrates of ectomycorrhizal fungi in pure culture and during Eucalyptus root infection. Mycol Res (in press)
Lei J, Lapeyrie F, Malajczuk N, Dexheimer J (1990) Infectivity of Pine and Eucalypt isolates of Pisolithus tinctorius (Pers.) Coker and Couch on roots of Eucalyptus urophylla S.T. Blake in vitro. 2. Ultrastructural and biochemical changes at the early stage of mycorrhizal formation. New Phytol 116: 115–122
Lei J, Wong KKY, Piche Y (1991) Extracellular Concanavalin A-binding sites during early interactions between Pinus banksiana and two closely realted genotypes of the ectomycorrhizal basidiomycete Laccaria bicolor. Mycol Res 3: 357–363
Malajczuk N, Lapeyrie F, Garbaye J (1990) Infectivity of Pine and Eucalypt isolates of Pisolithus tinctorius (Pers.) Coker and Couch on roots of Eucalyptus urophylla S.T. Blake in vitro. 1. Mycorrhizal formation in model systems. New Phytol 114: 627–631
Martin F, Hilbert JL (1991) Morphological, biochemical and molecular changes during ectomycorrhiza development. Experientia 47: 321–331
Mendgen K, Lange M, Bretschneider K (1985) Quantitative estimation of the surface carbohydrates on the infection structures of the rust fungi with enzymes and lectins. Arch Microbiol 140: 307–311
Peberdy JF (1990) Fungall cell wall—A review. In: Kuhn PJ, Trinci AP, Jung MJ, Goosey MW (eds). Biochemistry of the cell wall, chapter 2. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 5–30
Rast DM, Stussi H, Hegnauer H, Nyhlen LE (1981). Melanins. In: Turian G, Hohl H (eds). The fungal spore. Morphogenetic controls. Academic Press, London, pp 507–531
Swift JA (1968) The electron histochemistry of cystine-containing proteins in thin transverse sections of human hair. J Royal Microsc Soc 88: 449–460
Thiery JP (1967) Mise en évidence des polysaccharides sur coupes fines en microscopie électronique. J Micros 6: 987–1017
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Paris, F., Dexheimer, J. & Lapeyrie, F. Cytochemical evidence of a fungal cell wall alteration during infection of Eucalyptus roots by the ectomycorrhizal fungus Cenococcum geophilum . Arch. Microbiol. 159, 526–529 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00249030
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00249030