Changes in the marine green alga @iChaetomorpha media@@ on infection by a fungal pathogen

Abstract

Biochemical changes in the green filamentous alga @iChaetomorpha media@@ Kutzing infected with a holocarpic endobiotic fungus@@ Pontisma lagenidioides@@ Petersen were studied. Healthy plants of @iC. media@@ were inoculated with the infected material under laboratory conditions. The changes in chlorophyll, phaeo-pigments, total phenols, soluble carbohydrate and protein cotent over a period of 15 days were followed and compared with those of uninfected healthy plants. There was a significant decrease in chlorophyll content, accompained by an increase in phaeo-pigments in infected plants. This was directly correlated with the level of infection. There was a significant increase in total phenols on infection