VIEW ARTICLE

Infection Process of Cercospora beticola in Sugarbeet in Relation to Susceptibility. Z. Solel, The Volcani Institute of Agricultural Research, Bet Dagan, Israel; G. Minz, The Volcani Institute of Agricultural Research, Bet Dagan, Israel. Phytopathology 61:463-466. Accepted for publication 13 November 1970. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-61-463.

Four phases were distinguished in the infection process of Cercospora beticola on sugarbeet: spore germination, appressorium formation, hyphae spreading, and necrosis. The infection process was similar on various cultivars. Spore germination was not influenced by the cultivar. Fewer germ tubes completed the infection process on resistant than on susceptible cultivars. Two resistance mechanisms were proposed: one which determines the rate of penetration of germ tubes into stomata and is specific to the cultivar, irrespective of the pathogen; and one which prevents the fungus from colonizing in the mesophyll after penetration and is specific to both the cultivar and the pathogenic race.