Reduced root and shoot growth caused by Erysiphe graminis tritici in related wheats grown in nutrient solution culture

Abstract

The effects of infection by E. graminis f. sp. tritici on root and shoot growth of the susceptible wheat cultivar Chancellor, of the intermediately resistant line C.I. 14122 and of the highly resistant line C.I. 14120 were determined. Lines C.I. 14122 and C.I. 14120 are near isogenic lines of ''Chancellor'' that carry resistant genes Pm3c and Pm3a, respectively, conditioning their resistance to E. graminis tritici. Seedlings were grown in nutrient solution culture, inoculated with culture 4a of E. graminis tritici and were harvested 21 days after inoculation. The root dry weight of ''Chancellor'' was 54% less than the root dry weight of the highly resistant line C.I. 14120. The root dry weight of the intermediately resistant line C.I. 14122 was 16% less than the root dry weight of the highly resistant line C.I. 14120. The shoot dry weight of ''Chancellor'' was 46% less than that of the highly resistant line C.I. 14120. Tiller number was also significantly reduced by E. graminis tritici.