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6 Wood Discoloration

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5<br />

5.1<br />

Viruses<br />

Damages by Viruses and Bacteria<br />

Viruses are small particles (10–2,000 nm in size) that infect Eukaryotes as obligate<br />

intracellular parasites. They reproduce by invading and taking over other<br />

cells as they lack own metabolism and the machinery for self-reproduction<br />

(Nienhaus 1985a). Typically, they carry either DNA or RNA surrounded by<br />

a coat of protein or protein and lipid. Plant viruses penetrate the shoot, leaf<br />

tissue and root via wounds or they are transferred by vectors [aphids, cicadas,<br />

nematodes, among fungi: Sphaerotheca lanestris (Erysiphales) on oak].<br />

Partial bleaching of chlorophyll results in angular, circular (mosaic) or diffuse<br />

chloroses. Leaf damage, dwarfing or growth inhibition, distorted growth,<br />

and necrotic areas or lesions can occur, that is, virus infection can reduce<br />

the tree growth. Over 1,000 virus diseases of plants are described for Europe.<br />

Virus diseases in forest trees have been summarized e.g., by Nienhaus and<br />

Castello (1989) and Cooper and Edwards (1996). Viruses occur in several gymnosperms<br />

(Chamaecyparis, Cupressus, Larix, Picea and Pinus), angiosperms<br />

(Acer, Aesculus, Betula, Carpinus, Cormus, Corylus, Fagus, Fraxinus, Juglans,<br />

Populus, Prunus, Quercus, Rhamnus, Robinia, Salix, Sambucus, Sorbus and<br />

Ulmus) (Nienhaus 1989; Brandte et al. 2002), in bamboos and palms. Twig<br />

increase in horse chestnut (Butin 1995), and witches’-broom on beech and<br />

robinia are probably likewise due to the participation of viruses. Viruses have<br />

been detected several times in forest dieback sites (Parameswaran and Liese<br />

1988; Winter and Nienhaus 1989; Gasch et al. 1991).<br />

Viroids are infectious agents that consist of a single-stranded RNA. Viroids<br />

are smaller than viruses, lack a protein cover and are the smallest causal<br />

agents of plant diseases, like discolorations, chloroses and distorted growth,<br />

e.g., in coconut, cucumber, hop, potato and tomato (Schlegel 1992; Butin 1995;<br />

Nienhaus and Kiewnick 1998). About 33 species of viroids have been identified.<br />

5.2<br />

Bacteria<br />

“The Prokaryotes” (Dworkin et al. 2005) is a comprehensive reference on<br />

bacterial biology.<br />

www.taq.ir

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