Archivio Journal of Plant Pathology

Abstract:

The fungus Cochliobolus sativus is the causal agent of Barley spot blotch (SB) disease. In order to better un- derstand barley physiological reaction towards this dis- ease, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and ion fluxes in two different genotypes inoculated with a virulent isolate of C. sativus were investigated. Results showed that SB de- velopment was directly dependent on H2O2 generation and accumulation during infection. Significant differ- ences (P<0.001) in H2O2 values were found among dif- ferent time points, with values being consistently higher in the resistant genotype. The interaction between host leaves and pathogen produced a marked increase in electrolyte leakage from the susceptible genotype com- pared with the resistant one. The information obtained from this study highlights crucial points that can guide hypothesis-driven research to elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved in C. sativus-barley interaction