
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Miller, Anthony C. 
A1  - Watling, Jennifer R. 
A1  - Overton, Ian C. 
A1  - Sinclair, Russell 
T1  - Does water status of <emph type="2">Eucalyptus largiflorens</emph> (Myrtaceae) affect infection by the mistletoe <emph type="2">Amyema miquelii</emph> (Loranthaceae)?
JF  - Functional Plant Biology
JO  - Functional Plant Biol.
Y1  - 2003
VL  - 30
IS  - 12
SP  - 1239
EP  - 1247
KW  - parasitic plants, soil salinity, stable carbon isotopes, water potential.
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1071/FP03117 
N2  - The impact of soil salinity and host water status on the host / parasite association between Eucalyptus largiflorens (F.Muell.) and Amyema miquelii (Lehm. ex Miq.) Tiegh. was investigated in a semi-arid floodplain environment in southern Australia. Water status of potential hosts (i.e. uninfected E. largiflorens) was assessed at a range of sites with different soil salinities and then compared with mistletoe infection at the same sites. Pre-dawn leaf water potentials (&#936;) of uninfected E. largiflorens declined with increasing salinity, while leaf &#948;13C values increased. The proportion of infected E. largiflorens at each site decreased significantly with increasing soil salinity. A significant relationship was found between the proportion of infected trees at each site and leaf &#948;13C values, but not pre-dawn &#936;, of potential hosts. The impact of mistletoes on water status of infected trees was also investigated. Among infected trees, we found no significant relationship between mistletoe volume and either pre-dawn &#936; or leaf &#948;13C values of hosts. However, there was a significant relationship between host midday leaf &#936; and mistletoe volume, with hosts exhibiting increased stress as mistletoe volume increased. The data suggest that increasing water and / or salinity stress make E. largiflorens a less suitable host for A. miquelii. 
ER  -

