Powdery mildew of tobacco (Erysiphe cichoracearum DC.): Susceptibility of proximal and distal parts of leaves from different stalk positions on intact and topped field plants in relation to free amino nitrogen and carbohydrate content*

Abstract

SUMMARYThe area covered by visible mycelium of E. cichoracearum on the upper surface of leaves 4, 8, 12 and 16 of tobacco plants in field plots in Rhodesia was expressed as percentages of the proximal and distal halves at weekly intervals. Free amino nitrogen and carbohydrate in discs from proximal and distal halves of the same leaves were analysed when each leaf was expanding rapidly and was not infected, and several weeks later, when the rate of expansion had slowed down and there was slight infection. On two other occasions, similar leaf discs were inoculated with conidia, to measure the percentage germination and hyphal length from individual conidia after incubation for 2–3 days at constant temperature and humidity; duplicate discs were chemically analysed.Leaves were not susceptible until at least 6 weeks after they had emerged from the bud. Soluble carbohydrate increased and free amino nitrogen decreased during the change from resistance to susceptibility.Proximal parts of leaves were usually infected first; they initially contained less amino nitrogen and soluble carbohydrate than distal parts. All parts of the leaf seemed to be equally susceptible later, when there were no differences in their amino nitrogen or soluble carbohydrate.Upper leaves of intact plants had more natural infection than those from corresponding leaves from topped plants. More conidia germinated on discs from them and produced longer hyphae. The discs from intact plants contained less free amino nitrogen and more soluble carbohydrate than those from topped plants.The accuracy of visual assessments of susceptibility was, generally, confirmed by measurements of percentage germination and length of hyphae from individual conidia on leaf discs.Regressions of hyphal length on leaf composition showed that susceptibility was apparently related inversely to free amino nitrogen and water content and directly to insoluble carbohydrate per unit dry matter.