Disease suppression by the ectomycorrhizal fungus Paxillus involutus: contribution of oxalic acid

Abstract

Seedlings of Pinus resinosa Ait. grown in test tubes were inoculated with the ectomycorrhizal fungus Paxillus involutus Fr. Oxalic acid was identified as one of the ethanol-soluble fungistatic and (or) fungitoxic components of the rhizosphere after fractionation by high performance liquid chromatography, paper chromatography, and gel filtration. Simultaneous inoculation of P. resinosa seedlings with authentic oxalic acid and a spore suspension of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. pini protected the seedlings against Fusarium root rot and decreased the sporulation of F. oxysporum in the rhizosphere when compared with controls lacking oxalic acid. Quantitation of oxalic acid showed a five fold increase in production by Pax. involutus in tubes containing P. resinosa seedlings when compared with tubes lacking seedlings. The synthesis of oxalic acid by Pax. involutus is, therefore, stimulated by P. resinosa root exudate.