Abstract

PEREZ C, Ángela Patricia  and  CAYON S, Gerardo. Metabolism of carbohydrates in oil palms (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) affected by lethal wilt. Agron. colomb. [online]. 2010, vol.28, n.2, pp.181-187. ISSN 0120-9965.

The palm disease known as "Lethal Wilt" is present in plantations of the area of the first floor of the Upía River, in seven year-old palms of having sowed. It is not known the possible causal agent or factors that predispose the palms to the disease and it has not registered so far in other areas palms of the country. The carbohydrate metabolism was analyzed in oil palms with initial symptoms of disease, suspicious palms of presenting the disease, and healthy palms inside and outside of a disease focus. Samples of leaves, roots and trunks was analyzed to determine the concentrations of starch, sugars reducers, sugars non reducers and total sugars. The concentration of sugars reducers increased in palms with initial symptoms and suspects; the total sugars concentration in the suspicious palms increased compared with concentrations in palms with initial symptoms. The sugars non reducers in the different evaluated organs had very low concentrations. This results has been observe on alteration of the metabolism of the carbohydrates in the palms with "Lethal Wilt" probably suggest that the phytoplasmas are associated to the disease.

Keywords : plant diseases; plant biochemistry; starch; sugars reducers; sugars non reducers; total sugars.

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