Light and electron microscope studies of cytoplasmic aggregates formed in barley cells in response to Erysiphe graminis

Abstract

Cytoplasmic aggregates that formed in susceptible barley epidermal cells 11-12 h after inoculation with Erysiphe graminis were examined by light microscopy in living specimens and by electron microscopy in fixed specimens. Rapid development of the aggregate (5–10 min) suggested that cytoplasm migrated to the site of each aggregation. The aggregate contained features generally associated with areas of high metabolic and synthetic activity: abundant mitochondria, rough endoplasmic reticulum (associated with smooth cisternae), Golgi bodies, and polyribosomes. Leucoplasts and nuclei were sometimes near aggregates but not consistently. Microbodies and osmiophilic spherosomes were not present.