FLAVAN ACCUMULATION IN STEMS OF PLATANUS X ACERIFOLIA SEEDLINGS INOCULATED WITH CERATOCYSTIS-FIMBRIATA F-SP PLATANI, THE CANKER STAIN DISEASE AGENT

Inoculation of Platanus xacerifolia stems with Ceratocystis fimbriata f.sp. platani, the canker stain disease agent, induced the accumulatio n of preexisting phenolic compounds such as flavan-3-ols and proanthoc yanidins in the infected internode of the stem. These flavan compounds and their polymerized products were most quickly accumulated near the inoculation site, particularly in the medulla, vascular tissues, tylo ses, and gels. Thus, these plane tree reactions were considered as def ensive responses. Their involvement in the restriction of Ceratocystis fimbriata f.sp. platani development around the inoculation site, asso ciated with other located responses previously described, was discusse d.