Changes in total phenolic contents of pearl millet callus resistant and susceptible to downy mildew [Sclerospora graminicola]

Tissue cultures were used as the host-parasite systems to study the total phenolics in relation to downy mildew infection in pearl millet. Total phenolics increased due to infection by Sclerospora graminicola . As the age of the callus tissue increased, an increase in total phenolies was observed in both susceptible and resistant cultivars. The possibility of using a dual culture to study the biochemical changes occurring in the host parasite interactions of an obligate parasite is discussed.