Co-Authors:
Spross-Blickle, B., Tropeninstitut, University of Giessen, Giessen, 6300, Germany
Rotem, J., Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, 50250, Israel
Perl, M., Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, 50250, Israel
Kranz, J., Tropeninstitut, University of Giessen, Giessen, 6300, Germany
Abstract:
The rate at which cotyledons of the cotton species Gossypium barbadense, cv. Pima, infected with Alternaria macrospora abscissed was related to disease severity. Shedding was increased by cultivating the plants at high temperatures prior to inoculation, under poor nutritional conditions, or by inoculating the cotyledons at an early stage of development. Abscission of infected cotyledons by the relatively resistant cotton species G. hirsutum cv. Acala required about double the time required by the susceptible G. barbadense. Abscission also occurred in both species in response to infection with Alternaria alternata, and in response to injection with cell-free extracts of pathogenic Alternaria spp. and non pathogenic Fusarium and Botrytis spp. It also occurred in response to injection with chemicals, to mechanical injuries, heat shock or growth in continuous darkness. Premature abscission appears to be a non-specific response to stress, but in the field, abscission of leaves by G. barbadense cv. Pima infected with A. macrospora appears to be a response to the infection rather than to any other stress agent. © 1989.