Das Projekt "Einfluss von Wurzelinfektionen auf die Blattphysiologie reifer Eichenbaeume" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Technische Universität München, Forstwissenschaftliche Fakultät, Lehrstuhl für Forstbotanik durchgeführt. The investigation aims at clarifying the impact of root infection by Phytophthora fungi in adult oak trees (Quercus robur) on the physiology of the aboveground plant organs. The study is conducted in a 50- to 120-year-old oak stand near the city of Landau on Isar (Bavaria/Germany). On focus will be to investigate, whether wilting of leaves is related to impaired stomatal regulation, or whether photosynthetic processes are the site of primary injury, and whether physiological changes in the foliage are indicative of early stages in root infection. It is of interest, to what extent responses observed during early root infection differ from the decline during the final stages, when root structure is destroyed and 'plant-internal drought' establishes, and to what extent root destruction relates to the changes in a number of physiological parameters of the leaves.