Morphogenesis of the Powdery Mildew Fungus in Water (1) The Effect of Liquid on Infection Process of Erysiphe graminis

Abstract

Barley coleoptiles that had been inoculated with conidia of Erysiphe graminis were immersed in 0.01M CaCl₂, immediately after inoculation. Some of the immersed conidia showed normal differentiation giving rise to a haustorium, as similarly as those on coleoptiles that were not immersed. On the other hand, the percentage of elongated abnormal appressoria increased, and the penetration efficiency decreased slightly in water. However, E. graminis germlings that completed haustorium formation also elongated secondary hyphae, and eventually, sporulation occurred even in solution. The viability of the conidia and their associated structures was never affected at all while they were incubated in water without being dried. Thus, the water had no effect on the viability or on the differentiation process after formation of haustorium of E. graminis.