Characterisation of yam anthracnose phytotoxins

Phytotoxin studies show that there may be a molecular basis for host-selectivity of both yam isolates and yam anthracnose phytotoxins. Structural analysis of phytotoxins produced by C. gloeosporioides isolates indicates that they are glycoproteins with both N- and O-glycosidic linkages. The estimated size of these phytotoxins was approximately 40kDa, which was reduced to 36KDa when treated with deglycosylation enzymes. Sugars accounted for 53 percent of the glycoprotein and consisted mannose, galactose, and rhamnose, while all amino acids except histidine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid and tryptophan were detected. Only the protein moiety of the glycoprotein was active on plants or plant cell suspensions. Antibodies raised against the phytotoxins were generally specific and able to recognise the antigen in the membrane fraction but not the cytoplasmic fraction of yam cell suspensions.

Autorentext

Angela T Alleyne is currently a lecturer in Biochemistry at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados. She studied extensively yam anthracnose phytotoxins, an important disease in the Caribbean. Her postgraduate career involved the study of molecular markers in bean rust. Her research includes molecular markers in disease.