Comparison of photosynthetic pigments and carbohydrate contents in fungus-infected juniper plant (Juniperus phoenicea L.) and the uninfected plant

Abstract

This study aimed to compare the physiological characteristics of a fungus-infected juniper plant with another healthy plant, these characteristics include photosynthetic pigment content, soluble sugars and sucrose content. The present study revealed the presence of 4 genera of fungi belonging to Ascomycetae and Deuteromycetes isolated from the leaves of Juniperus phoenicea L. and identified by morphological and microscopic characteristics. The species of fungi isolated from the juniper plant are Alternaria alternate, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium oxysporum, Penicillium crustaceum. The affected juniper plant contained 0.306, 0.296 and 0.351 mg g -1 FW chlorophyll a and b and a carotenoid, respectively. The observed decrease in photosynthetic pigment content in the affected plant compared to the healthy plant was 0.713, 0.695 and 0.874 mg g -1 FW, respectively. The content of soluble sugars in juniper plants was measured and found to be 2.26 mg g -1 FW in healthy plants and 1.937 mg g -1 FW in infected plants. The sucrose content was 2.938 mg g -1 FW in the pathogen infected plant and 3.28 mg g -1 FW in the healthy plant. There was a very significant decrease because the sugars are attached to photosynthetic pigments, and as the amount of pigments decreases, the amount of sugars decreases.