EVIDENCE FOR SPECIFIC VARIATION OF PROTEIN PATTERN DURING TAPPING PANEL DRYNESS CONDITION DEVELOPMENT IN HEVEA-BRASILIENSIS

Tapping panel dryness (TPD) condition affects the production of latex in Hevea brasiliensis plantations. Latex production is severely decrea sed in diseased plants and can be completely shut down in the ultimate stage of the phenomenon, In search of the molecular basis of the dise ase, we have analysed the changes in latex protein pattern during the development of this condition, Five proteins specific to the cytosolic compartment of latex were found to be related to the disease, Major c hanges consisted of a dramatic increase of a 26-kDa and a 14.5-kDa pro tein in diseased plants and minor changes affected a 55-kDa, a 34-kDa and a 21-kDa protein. The 26-kDa protein was found to be linked to the coagulation process. Its accumulation is specifically correlated to t he disease development and is inhibited by ethylene, The 14.5-kDa prot ein accumulates preferentially in the severe stages of the condition. A disfunctioning of the coagulation process is proposed to be the majo r cause of the syndrome.