Resistance to the rust fungus Puccinia poae-nemoralis in Poa pratensis induced by low-temperature hardening

Abstract

Four different cultivars of Poa pratensis were exposed to a physical stress (low-temperature hardening) before inoculation with an obligate parasite, Puccinia poae-nemoralis. Compared with the unhardened control plants, hardened plants of all cultivars showed significantly increased resistance to the pathogen. The effect was most pronounced on the most susceptible cultivar. These results indicate that low-temperature hardening of plants can trigger some natural defence mechanisms against plant pathogens.