The Spectrum of Infections by <i>Fusarium</i> Species on <i>Codiaeum Variegatum</i> (L.) Blume Cultivars as Influenced by Fructose Specific Lectin

Abstract

This study sought to have an insight into the mechanism of action of diseases responsible for the susceptible Codiaeum variegatum (garden croton) leaves induced by Fusarium species and the clinical importance of the d isease resistant types. The plants were obtained fro m the Babcock University Germp lasm Repository. Therefore, phytopathogenic Fusarium species were isolated fro m three diseased susceptible cult ivars of C. variegatum (ovalifolium, royal-like and punctatum). Accordingly, lect in was isolated, purified and characterized fro m the leaves of a resistant garden croton cultivar (royal), and further evaluated for antifungal act ivity using isolates of Fusarium lateritium and F. semitectum obtained fro m the three diseased cultivars. The heamagglutinating activity of the purified lect in was non selective to type of blood group (A, B, A B and O) and was inhib ited by fructose, sialic acid, and copper sulphate, but was enhanced by galactose, calciu m chloride, sodium chloride and magnesium chloride. Optimu m heamagglutinating activ ity of the lectin was achieved at 30-40℃ and pH 5.0-6.0. The lectin exh ibited antifungal activity against the two Fusarium species in a non-concentration dependent manner. It is therefore concluded that Fusarium species are major phytopathogens of the garden croton plant and their spectrum of pathogenicity is dependent on the presence or absence of lectins. In addition, the resistant cultivar of C. variegatum (cv. royal) used in this study may be a suitable candidate for the prevention and treatment of fungal infections.

Comparative Study of the Haemagglutination Capabilities of Lectin Extracted from Submerged Cultures of Wild and Mutant Strains of Schizophyllum commune

“…This is slightly similar to the lectin extracted from Codiaeum variegatum [29]. Lectin in this study was found to be heat stable from 20˚C to 30˚C and the heat stability began to decrease at 40˚C and completely lost its activity at 70˚C.…”

“…As shown in the result virtually all the lectins from the various strains of Schizophyllum commune are Mannose binding. This type of lectin is quite different from the recently reported Lectin [29]. As known they have attracted great interest due to their various biological activities, such as antitumor [30] [31].…”