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Effect of Root and Leaf Injury on Cell Death and Stalk Rot Susceptibility in Corn. A. J. Pappelis, Department of Botany, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale 62901. Phytopathology 60:355-357. Accepted for publication 22 September 1969. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-60-355.

Cell death, stalk rot response following inoculation with Diplodia zeae or Gibberella zeae, and the incidence of natural basal stalk rot are related. Injuries to roots and leaves increased susceptibility to stalk rot and the rate of cell death, the greatest increases to both being caused by root injury. Inoculation of the stalks did not increase the incidence of natural basal stalk rot. Death of cells in nodal tissue occurs concomitantly with the change from resistance to susceptibility to natural stalk rots and to spread of stalk rot pathogens from the roots to the stalk and from internode to internode within the stalk.