Wheat Leaf Rust Fungus: RIMAPS Analysis to Detect Germ-tube Orientation Pattern

Abstract

Wheat is severely affected by a destructive disease, leaf rust, caused by fungus, Puccinia triticina E. All over the world, wheat leaf rust reduces crop yield up to 10%. When the uredospore reaches the leaf surface develops germ-tubes, which are directed towards the stomata. The germ-tube grows and elongates perpendicular to the long axis of the epidermal cells, this orientation is considered to be response to stimuli from the host, such us physical and chemical features. The topography of the leaf surface has been proposed by several investigators as a major factor that can influence the direction of the germ-tube growth. Our research work is based on determining which of these topographic parameters influence the development of the germ-tubes, by using artificial surfaces with known topographies.