THE CYTOKININ CONTENT IN NEEDLES OF NORWAY SPRUCE (PICEA-ABIES [L] KARST) WITH DIFFERENT DEGREES OF DAMAGE

In order to check for relations between tree damage and changes in plant hormone concentrations the cytokinins t-zeatin, t-zeatin riboside, isopentenyladenine and isopentenyladenosine were examined. Needles of young and old spruce from forest plantations showing different degrees of novel forest decline were analysed using chromatographic prepurification, HPLC-separation and quantification by means of an indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. One year time course analyses revealed strongly elevated concentrations of t-zeatin riboside and isopentenyladenosine in diseased trees throughout the whole year. Annual mean values for the cytokinin ribosides in 1-year-old needles of old spruce were: heavily damaged - t-zeatin riboside 371, isopentenyladenosine 914; slightly damaged - 42, 202 (respectively, in pmol/g dry weight). The developed ELISA may be used as a diagnostic tool to detect changes in the health of trees not detectable by conventional methods.