VIEW ARTICLE

Physiology and Biochemistry

Enzyme Activities in Dormant Spores of Two Tilletia Species. Shan- qian Yu, Visiting research associate Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis 97331, now Department of Biology, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China; Edward J. Trione, research biochemist, Agricultural Research Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis 97331. Phytopathology 73:1423-1428. Accepted for publication 4 May 1983. This article is in the public domain and not copyrightable. It may be freely reprinted with customary crediting of the source. The American Phytopathological Society, 1983. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-73-1423.

A simple, sensitive microtest, based on fluorescence associated with enzyme activities in the presence of specific substrates, is described that may provide an accurate measure of dormant spore viability in many fungi. Esterase, sulfatase, and glycosidase activities were measured in extracts from teliospores of Tilletia controversa (TCK), and T. caries (TCT) in the presence of 15 different substrates. Except for four substrates, the measured activities were higher in TCK than in TCT. Activities of α-l-arabinopyranosidase and β-d-glucuronidase were found only in TCK. Temperature and pH optima were determined for the individual enzymes. The optimal temperatures for the enzyme activities were higher in all cases than the optimal temperatures for germination of teliospores of TCK or TCT. The temperature relationships are discussed.