VIEW ARTICLE

Physiology and Biochemistry

The Possible Role of Peroxidase Isoenzymes in the Infection of English Oak by Loranthus europaeus. R. Ebermann, University of Agriculture, Gregor Mendel-Strasse 33, A-1180 Vienna, Austria; E. Lickl, University of Agriculture, Gregor Mendel-Strasse 33, A-1180 Vienna, Austria. Phytopathology 75:1102-1104. Accepted for publication 5 May 1985. Copyright 1985 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-75-1102.

Electrophoretic investigations of peroxidase isoenzymes in the hemiparasite-host system Loranthus europaeus-Quercus robur showed enhanced activities in the host-parasite junction. The peroxidase of L. europaeus was increased manyfold in this location. For use in inhibition studies, the enzyme was concentrated by (NH₄)₂SO₄-precipitation and partly purified by preparative gel electrophoresis. The enzyme was inhibited most effectively by 1.0 x 10^{- 3} M S^{- -} . Classical peroxidase inhibitors were practically without effect. In preliminary field experiments, treatment of oaks with 5% CaS₂ reduced the rate of implantation by Loranthus by 36%.