Infection of alfalfa pollen bySclerotinia sclerotiorum |
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| Authors: | H C Huang E G Kokko R S Erickson |
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| Institution: | (1) Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, T1J 4B1 Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada |
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| Abstract: | Blossom blight, caused bySclerotinia sclerotiorum, has become an important disease of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) in seed production areas of western Canada. Studies using light microscopy and scanning and transmission electron microscopy
revealed that pollen grains of alfalfa are susceptible to infection byS. sclerotiorum. Ascospores ofS. sclerotiorum germinated readily in water with or without pollen grains. Examinations of ascospore—pollen mixtures incubated at room temperature
(20–22°C) for 5 days revealed that numerous pollen grains were infected byS. sclerotiorum by direct hyphal penetration through the equatorial germinative pores or through the exine and intine layers of the pollen
wall without the formation of infection cushions or appressoria. After penetration, hyphae ramified within the pollen grains,
causing plasmolysis of the cytoplasmic membrane and eventual disintegration of the pollen cytoplasm. The study suggests that
alfalfa pollen may play a role in the epidemiology of blossom blight in alfalfa. |
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| Keywords: | Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) pollen infection bySclerotinia sclerotiorum ascospores hyphae blossom blight epidemiology |
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