Effect of host genotype on leaf rust (Puccinia triticina) lesion development and urediniospore production in wheat seedlings

Experiments were performed in controlled conditions to compare several aggressiveness components of an isolate of Puccinia triticina on different wheat (Triticum aestivum) genotypes. Latency period, urediniospore production per lesion and per unit of sporulating surface, lesion size, and nitrogen and carbon content of the spores were measured on four host genotypes. Three of the host cultivars (Soissons, Altria and Isengrain) were susceptible and the fourth (Trémie) was resistant to the isolate used in the experiments, producing a mesothetic infection type. In all the analyses, lesion density was used as a covariable. The latent period was identical on the susceptible host cultivars, and there were no marked differences in the urediniospore production capacity when related to the sporulating surface area. In cv. Isengrain, differences in lesion size relative to the other susceptible cultivars resulted in lower urediniospore production per lesion. Urediniospore production per lesion and lesion size were density dependent and decreased exponentially with increasing lesion density. Urediniospore production per unit of sporulating surface was either independent of lesion density or marginally dependent (decreased linearly with a limited rate). On the resistant cultivar, Trémie, the latent period was longer and of a much greater variance compared with the susceptible cultivars. Urediniospore production per lesion was considerably reduced, but this reduction was fully accounted for by a reduction in lesion size, the urediniospore production capacity of the diseased tissue remaining equivalent to that observed in the susceptible cultivars. In all cultivars the C and N contents of the urediniospores were considered unchanged, even if minor differences were detected.