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Toma T, Kováč J, Ďurkovič J. Fast, Easy, and Comprehensive Techniques for Microscopic Observations of Fungal and Oomycete Organisms Inside the Roots of Herbaceous and Woody Plants. Bio Protoc 2024; 14:e5013. [PMID: 38873018 PMCID: PMC11166536 DOI: 10.21769/bioprotoc.5013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
The roots of herbaceous and woody plants growing in soil are complex structures that are affected by both natural and artificial fungal colonization to various extents. To obtain comprehensive information about the overall distribution of fungi or oomycetes inside a plant root system, rapid, effective, and reliable screening methods are required. To observe both fine roots, i.e., a common site for penetration of fungi and oomycetes, and mature roots, different techniques are required to overcome visual barriers, such as root browning or tissue thickening. In our protocol, we propose using fast, cost-effective, and non-harmful methods to localize fungal or oomycete structures inside plant roots. Root staining with a fluorescent dye provides a quick initial indication of the presence of fungal structures on the root surfaces. The protocol is followed by clearing and staining steps, resulting in a deeper insight into the root tissue positioning, abundance, and characteristic morphological/reproductive features of fungal or oomycete organisms. If required, the stained samples can be prepared by using freeze-drying for further observations, including advanced microscopic techniques. Key features • The protocol enhances tissue-clearing techniques employing KOH or NaOH and is applicable to a broad range of roots from different plant species. • Hydroxides are mixed with hydrogen peroxide to obtain an efficient bleaching solution, which effectively clears roots without causing significant tissue damage. • The protocol could also be used for staining of fungi or oomycetes localized both on the root surface or inside the root tissues. • Simple combination of non-fluorescent methyl blue and fluorescent solophenyl flavine dyes allows the observation of fungal organisms in both brightfield and fluorescence microscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomáš Toma
- Department of Phytology, Technical University in Zvolen, T. G., Zvolen, Slovakia
| | - Ján Kováč
- Department of Phytology, Technical University in Zvolen, T. G., Zvolen, Slovakia
| | - Jaroslav Ďurkovič
- Department of Phytology, Technical University in Zvolen, T. G., Zvolen, Slovakia
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Corcobado T, Cech TL, Daxer A, Ďatková H, Janoušek J, Patra S, Jahn D, Hüttler C, Milenković I, Tomšovský M, Jung MH, Jung T. Phytophthora, Nothophytophthora and Halophytophthora diversity in rivers, streams and riparian alder ecosystems of Central Europe. Mycol Prog 2023; 22:50. [PMID: 37323627 PMCID: PMC10264269 DOI: 10.1007/s11557-023-01898-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Waterways are ideal pathways for Phytophthora dispersal and potential introduction to terrestrial ecosystems. While many Phytophthora species from phylogenetic clades 6, 9 and 10 are predominant oomycetes in watercourses due to their adaptation to a lifestyle as saprotrophs and opportunistic pathogens of riparian plants, species from clades 2, 7 and 8 are predominantly soil- or airborne using aquatic habitats as temporal niches for spreading and invading terrestrial sites along the watercourses. In contrast to forest ecosystems, knowledge of Phytophthora diversity in watercourses in Central Europe is limited. Between 2014 and 2019 extensive surveys of streams and rivers were undertaken across Austria, in South Moravia, Czech Republic and Žilina province, Slovakia to unveil the diversity and distribution of Phytophthora and related oomycetes. In addition, in Austria riparian forests of black alder (Alnus glutinosa) and grey alder (A. incana) in lowlands and in the Alps were examined. A variety of Phytophthora species from clades 2, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 were isolated, with clade 6 species showing the widest distribution and abundance. Furthermore, interspecific clade 6 hybrids and other oomycetes such as Halophytophthora fluviatilis and undescribed Nothophytophthora spp. were also obtained. In riparian alders, symptoms of Phytophthora infections were associated with species from the P. × alni complex and P. plurivora. Phytophthora plurivora was most common in alder stands whereas P. uniformis was the oomycete species occurring at the highest altitude in alpine riparian areas. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11557-023-01898-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Corcobado
- Phytophthora Research Centre, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 3, 61300 Brno, Czech Republic
- Natural Hazards and Landscape, Unit of Phytopathology, Department of Forest Protection, Federal Research and Training Centre for Forests, Seckendorff-Gudent-Weg 8, 1131 Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas L. Cech
- Natural Hazards and Landscape, Unit of Phytopathology, Department of Forest Protection, Federal Research and Training Centre for Forests, Seckendorff-Gudent-Weg 8, 1131 Vienna, Austria
| | - Andreas Daxer
- Natural Hazards and Landscape, Unit of Phytopathology, Department of Forest Protection, Federal Research and Training Centre for Forests, Seckendorff-Gudent-Weg 8, 1131 Vienna, Austria
| | - Henrieta Ďatková
- Phytophthora Research Centre, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 3, 61300 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Josef Janoušek
- Phytophthora Research Centre, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 3, 61300 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Sneha Patra
- Phytophthora Research Centre, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 3, 61300 Brno, Czech Republic
- Global Change Research Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Belidla 986/4a, 603 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Daniella Jahn
- Natural Hazards and Landscape, Unit of Phytopathology, Department of Forest Protection, Federal Research and Training Centre for Forests, Seckendorff-Gudent-Weg 8, 1131 Vienna, Austria
| | - Christine Hüttler
- Natural Hazards and Landscape, Unit of Phytopathology, Department of Forest Protection, Federal Research and Training Centre for Forests, Seckendorff-Gudent-Weg 8, 1131 Vienna, Austria
| | - Ivan Milenković
- Phytophthora Research Centre, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 3, 61300 Brno, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Forestry, University of Belgrade, Kneza Višeslava 1, 11030 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Michal Tomšovský
- Phytophthora Research Centre, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 3, 61300 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Marília Horta Jung
- Phytophthora Research Centre, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 3, 61300 Brno, Czech Republic
- Phytophthora Research and Consultancy, Am Rain 9, 83131 Nußdorf, Germany
| | - Thomas Jung
- Phytophthora Research Centre, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 3, 61300 Brno, Czech Republic
- Phytophthora Research and Consultancy, Am Rain 9, 83131 Nußdorf, Germany
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Saiz-Fernández I, Đorđević B, Kerchev P, Černý M, Jung T, Berka M, Fu CH, Horta Jung M, Brzobohatý B. Differences in the Proteomic and Metabolomic Response of Quercus suber and Quercus variabilis During the Early Stages of Phytophthora cinnamomi Infection. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:894533. [PMID: 35770156 PMCID: PMC9234522 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.894533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands is a cosmopolite pathogen of woody plants which during the last couple of centuries has spread all over the world from its center of origin in Southeast Asia. In contrast to Chinese cork oak (Quercus variabilis Blume) forests native to Asia, which are generally healthy despite the presence of the pathogen, the populations of Cork oaks (Quercus suber L.) in Europe have been severely decimated by P. cinnamomi. The present study aims at identifying the differences in the early proteomic and metabolomic response of these two tree species that lead to their differences in susceptibility to P. cinnamomi. By using micropropagated clonal plants, we tried to minimize the plant-to-plant differences in the defense response that is maximized by the high intraspecific genetic variability inherent to the Quercus genus. The evolution on the content of Phytophthora proteins in the roots during the first 36 h after inoculation suggests a slower infection process in Q. variabilis plants. These plants displayed a significant decrease in sugars in the roots, together with a downregulation of proteins related to carbon metabolism. In the leaves, the biggest changes in proteomic profiling were observed 16 h after inoculation, and included increased abundance of peroxidases, superoxide dismutases and glutathione S-transferases in Q. variabilis plants, which probably contributed to decrease its susceptibility to P. cinnamomi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iñigo Saiz-Fernández
- Department of Molecular Biology and Radiobiology, Faculty of AgriSciences, Phytophthora Research Centre, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czechia
| | - Biljana Đorđević
- Department of Forest Protection and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Phytophthora Research Centre, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czechia
| | - Pavel Kerchev
- Department of Molecular Biology and Radiobiology, Faculty of AgriSciences, Phytophthora Research Centre, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czechia
| | - Martin Černý
- Department of Molecular Biology and Radiobiology, Faculty of AgriSciences, Phytophthora Research Centre, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czechia
| | - Thomas Jung
- Department of Forest Protection and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Phytophthora Research Centre, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czechia
| | - Miroslav Berka
- Department of Molecular Biology and Radiobiology, Faculty of AgriSciences, Phytophthora Research Centre, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czechia
| | - Chuen-Hsu Fu
- Forest Protection Division, Taiwan Forestry Research Institute, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Marília Horta Jung
- Department of Forest Protection and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Phytophthora Research Centre, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czechia
| | - Břetislav Brzobohatý
- Department of Molecular Biology and Radiobiology, Faculty of AgriSciences, Phytophthora Research Centre, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czechia
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