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Influence of Iron on Cylindrocarpon Root Rot Development on Ginseng

Cylindrocarpon root rot, caused by Cylindrocarpon destructans, is an important disease on ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) in Canada. We studied the effects of iron (Fe) on disease severity and pathogen growth. When Hoagland's solution was amended with Fe at 56 and 112 μg/ml compared with 0 μg/ml, disease initiation and final severity on hydroponically maintained ginseng roots was significantly (P<0.0001) enhanced. Under field conditions, wounding of roots with a fine needle followed by application of 0.05% FeNaEDTA to the rhizosphere of treated plants significantly enhanced Cylindrocarpon root rot in 2003 and 2004 compared with unwounded roots with Fe or wounded roots without Fe. Foliar applications of Fe (as FeNaEDTA) to ginseng plants three times during the 2002 and 2003 growing seasons significantly increased Fe levels in root tissues. These roots developed larger lesions following inoculation with C. destructans in vitro. When radioactive Fe (⁵⁹Fe) was applied to the foliage of ginseng plants, it was detected in the secondary phloem and in cortical and epidermal tissues within 1 week. Artificially wounded areas on the roots accumulated more ⁵⁹Fe than healthy areas. Diseased tissue also had threefold higher levels of phenolic compounds and Fe compared with adjoining healthy tissues. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis revealed enhanced levels of protocatechuic acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid, cinnamic acid, phloridizin, and quercetin. Phenolic compounds produced in diseased and wounded tissues sequestered Fe in vitro. The effects of Fe on mycelial growth, conidial germ tube length, and secondary branching of germ tubes of C. destructans were examined in vitro. When grown on Chrome-azurol S medium, Fe also was sequestered by C. destructans through siderophore production, which was visualized as a clearing pigmented zone at the margin of colonies. Mycelial dry weight was significantly increased in glucose/ yeast broth containing Fe at 56 or 112 μg/ml. Conidial germ tube length and secondary branching of hyphae also were enhanced after 8 and 16 h by Fe. Colony growth of C. destructans was not enhanced by Fe, but significantly greater spore production was observed with Fe at 56 and 112 μg/ml compared with no Fe in the medium. Although these levels of Fe had no effect on fungal pectinase enzyme activity, polyphenoloxidase (PPO) activity was significantly (P <0.0001) enhanced. We conclude that Fe enhances Cylindrocarpon root rot through enhanced pathogen growth, sporulation, and PPO enzyme activity. Fe sequestered by phenolic compounds produced in wounded tissues can enhance Fe levels at the site of infection. The pathogen also has the ability to sequester Fe at these sites.