Morphology of infection of onion leaves by Alternaria porri

Abstract

Conidial germination of Alternaria porri, formation of prepenetration structures, penetration of the onion leaf surface, and the postpenetration processes were studied using light, scanning electron, and transmission electron microscopy. Ninety-six percent of conidia germinated at 25 °C within 24 h of inoculation. Each conidium formed several germ tubes that grew in any direction across the leaf surface. Each germ tube usually terminated in a bulbous appressorium formed directly on the epidermal cell (52.4% of appressoria) or on a stoma (48.6% of appressoria). Following direct penetration of the outer epidermal cell wall or the stoma, bulbous primary hyphae developed below the appressoria. Secondary hyphae developed from the primary hyphae within 48 h after inoculation and grew within the intercellular spaces penetrating mesophyll cells. The changes in ultrastructure of cells in close proximity to hyphae and of infected cells are described. Key words: Allium cepa, electron microscopy, infection process, purple blotch.