Ultrastructural changes in roots of peppers resistant and susceptible to Phytophthora capsici

Abstract

The infection by Phytophthora capsici Leonian causes foliar blight and crown and root rot of pepper plants. The ultrastructural examination of resistant and susceptible host-pathogen interactions was conducted in the pepper cultivars Ince Sivri-35, PM217, and PM702=CM 334 following inoculation with Phytophthora capsici. Responses were characterized and compared with healthy non-inoculated controls at 2,4 and 6 days after inoculation. Numerous ultrastructural studies have been made of the interaction of various host plants Phytophthora spp. No ultrastructural studies comparing the resistant and susceptible reactions of pepper cultivars to P. capsici. have been reported. It is important to examine the ultrastructural changes in inoculated and infected tissue of resistant and susceptible pepper cultivars to P. capsici. Information reported here characterizes the processes of pathogen containment in resistant interactions and compares these with the processes occuring in susceptible interactions.After 2 days in susceptible interactions, the pathogen grew intercellularly in roots, whereas in resistant interactions only a few intercellular hyphae were observed penetrating the host cells and forming haustoria.