The response of different celery genotypes to infection by septoria apiicola

Abstract

A rapid and useful method of disease assessment, based on a visual key, was developed for leaf spot of celery, caused by Septoria apiicola. Details were provided by an assessment of percentage infection, number and type of lesions per plant and number of pycnidia per lesion. The lesion response was graded from 0 (resistant with no lesions) to 3 (susceptible with grey lesions, leaf chlorosis and numerous pycnidia). Assessments were performed on leaves attached to the plants as well as on detached leaves incubated in sealed Petri dishes, after inoculation with a standard spore suspension. Tests were carried out on currently popular celery varieties, lines of wild celery, hybrids of celery × wild celery and celery × parsley. Lesion response 0 was found on some lines of wild celery, lovage and parsley; response 1 on lines of wild celery; response 2 on hybrid celery × wild celery and on the commercial celery Giant Red; and response 3 on all of the remaining celery varieties tested (Monarch, Fenlander, Tall Utah and Galaxy). Detached leaves from the individual genotypes showed responses in an order similar to that of the attached leaves but the onset of the response in detached leaves was always more rapid, with fewer lesions and pycnidia. Analysis of leaf chlorophyll content from the different sources was made to establish any relationship between chlorophyll and resistance but none was found.