Co-Authors:
Eizenberg, H., ARO, Newe Ya'ar Research Center, Ramat Yishay, Israel, Department of Crop and Soil Science, Crop Science Building 331B, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, United States
Plakhine, D., ARO, Newe Ya'ar Research Center, Ramat Yishay, Israel
Hershenhorn, J., ARO, Newe Ya'ar Research Center, Ramat Yishay, Israel
Kleifeld, Y., ARO, Newe Ya'ar Research Center, Ramat Yishay, Israel
Rubin, B., Fac. of Agric. Food/Environ. Science, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
Abstract:
The effects of various temperature regimes in the range 29-17/21-9°C day/night on each stage of the parasitism process of Orobanche cumana and O. aegyptiaca on sunflower were studied under controlled conditions in polyethylene bags. The response of the resistant sunflower variety 'Ambar' was expressed as the degeneration of the parasite tissues after its establishment in the plant roots, and this stage was found to be temperature dependent. The degeneration rate of Orobanche tubercles in the resistant sunflower variety was also found to be temperature dependent and was about five times as great as that in the sensitive variety in the highest temperature regime tested of 29/21°C day/night. The ability to reject the parasite by causing its degeneration and death is the main factor that determines the resistance. As the temperature rises, more tubercles degenerate and die, that is the sunflower plant expresses higher levels of resistance.