Colonization of roots of subterranean clover cultivars by virulent and avirulent races of Phytophthora clandestina

Abstract

The colonization of the roots of four cultivars of subterranean clover by isolates representing four races of Phytophthora clandestina was studied. There was a highly significant race × cultivar interaction in the growth of inoculated tap roots and the degree of colonization of roots by the pathogen. While all races were able to infect the roots of all cultivars tested, roots of the susceptible cultivars were colonized more rapidly and extensively than those of the resistant cultivars. In compatible combinations, fungal colonization extended for a few centimetres in the tap root and lateral roots in the moderately susceptible cultivars Trikkala and Meteora, or throughout the whole root system leading to the death of the host in the very susceptible cultivar Woogenellup. In contrast, limited fungal colonization of the tap root and lack of extension of the fungus into lateral roots was typical of incompatible combinations. In all cultivars, lateral roots were as susceptible to infection as tap roots. The number of lateral roots of Woogenellup was significantly reduced by infection. However, neither the rate of lateral root formation nor the total number of lateral roots of Seaton Park, Meteora and Trikkala was reduced by infection with virulent or avirulent races of the pathogen.