Effect of some leaf essential oil phenotypes from coastal redwood on growth of its predominant endophytic fungus,Pleuroplaconema sp.

Experiments were performed to assess the effect of four foliar essential oil phenotypes from a coastal redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) population on isolates ofPleuroplaconema sp., its ubiquitous endophytic fungus. Isolates were exposed to essential oils extracted from their trees of origin and from other trees. The hypotheses tested were: (1) redwood leaf essential oils extracted from distinct trees would have a differential effect onPleuroplaconema sp. growth, and (2) growth of isolates from a particular tree would be differentially affected when exposed to essential oil phenotypes different from that of their tree of origin. The essential oil phenotypes were differentially inhibitory, but the pattern of inhibition did not support the second hypothesis.Pleuroplaconema sp. showed low average tolerance to all of the essential oils; two phenotypes reduced growth 70-80% and the other two 50-60% at the dose tested. The overall growth response of individual isolates to all treatments suggests that more than one fungus genotype per tree was represented in the experiment. The variability in tolerance of individual isolates to the essential oils was low for three phenotypes. The low tolerance ofPleuroplaconema sp. to redwood essential oils, in spite of its predominance and specialization in this conifer, is discussed considering: (1) the possible pathogenic ancestry of this fungus, and (2) that essential oil phenotypes may be important in controlling the activity ofPleuroplaconema sp. after it colonizes the leaf.