Pathogenesis of Potato Gangrene Caused by Phoma exigua var. foveata. I. Location of Phosphatase Activity in Diseased Tuber Tissue

The nitrocellulose blotting method was adapted for locating phosphatase activities in gangrene-diseased tuber tissue. Adenine and glucose phosphates were used as enzyme substrates. A strong dephosphorylation of high-energy phosphates took place in the UV-fluorescent tissue adjacent to dry rots caused by Phoma exigua var. foveata, but the enzyme remained at a low activity in the other areas of the diseased tuber. Phosphatases were probably induced by P. exigua var. foveata, and intense dephosphorylation of high-energy compounds leads to the death of potato tuber tissue.