STIMULATION OF FURANOCOUMARIN ACCUMULATION IN CELERY AND CELERIAC TISSUES BY FUSARIUM-OXYSPORUM F SP APII

Root and petiole tissues of celery and celeriac accessions were shown to contain linear furanocoumarins (LFCs) when infected with the root fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. apii. LFC levels were low (< 5 ppm) in young celery and celeriac roots seven weeks post-inoculation, but levels as high as 50 ppm were detected in severely rotted celery root and crown tissues of mature 5270R plants. Petioles of young plants contained higher amounts than the roots. Analysis of variance showed significant differences among the genotypes for LFC content in the petioles, but there was little correlation with disease resistance. In addition to the linear furanocoumarins, angelicin, an angular furanocoumarin was detected as well. Trimethylpsoralen was not detected in any of our samples. The implications of elevated furanocoumarin content for human health are discussed.