Effects of the Srl5 allele for resistance on development of the stem rust fungus and cellular responses in wheat

Abstract

The development of avirulent and virulent strains of stem rust (Puccinia graminis Pers. f.sp. tritici Eriks. & Henn.) in a susceptible wheat line and two cultivars bearing the Sr15 allele for resistance was studied, mainly by fluorescence microscopy. Formation of appressoria, substomatal vesicles, infection hyphae, and the first haustorium was unaffected by resistance. The first effect of Sr15 expression was a slower rate of haustorial mother cell formation and was first seen 48 h after inoculation. Effects on hyphal branching and colony radii followed. Necrosis of host cells was first seen at 42 h, but inspection of individual infection sites showed that necrosis did not coincide with effects on haustorial mother cells. It is possible that deterioration of host cells leading to visible host cell necrosis may be related to effects on rust development. Sr15 expression gave a mesothetic reaction, first seen microscopically 60 h after inoculation. Differences between individual infection sites in this reaction may be related to the timing of the onset of necrosis.