Abstract
Pumkin seedlings (Cucurbita maxima) were inoculated with the fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary. Center regions of non-infected and infected cotyledons of various lengths were cut into 1 x 2 mm strips and processed for ultrastructural investigations. Complementary portions of opposing non-infected cotyledons were also processed as control tissue, and contained fewer storage products in cells than cotyledons of comparable size from non-infected plants. Young non-infected cells contained distinct lipid bodies, protein bodies and electron dense inlusions which were translocated out of older cells by abundant plasmodesmata. Initally, infected cells became plasmolyzed, followed by breakdown of the cytoplasm. Host cells were generally affected only 4-6 cells from the infection front. Many infected cells had abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum and all organells were eventually completely disrupted. Action of enzymes from fungal cells did not appear to be limited to the area immediatedly adjacent to hyphal cells.
Degree
MS
College and Department
Life Sciences; Plant and Wildlife Sciences
Rights
http://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/
BYU ScholarsArchive Citation
Richtsteig, Mark Edward, "Ultrastructural investigations of the host-parasite interface of pumpkin cotyledons and the fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum" (1975). Theses and Dissertations. 7967.
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/7967
Date Submitted
1975-08-01
Document Type
Thesis
Handle
http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/Letd457
Keywords
Host-parasite relationships; Pumpkin; Phytopathogenic fungi
Language
English