EXPERIMENTAL INITIATION OF HAUSTORIA IN AGALINIS PURPUREA (SCROPHULARIACEAE)

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Abstract
The initiation and early developmental stages of the haustorium were studied in Agalinis purpurea (Scrophulariaceae). Plants were grown in a 0.9% agar inorganic medium with a 0.5% sucrose supplement. Root exudate collected from Lespedeza sericea induced the initiation of haustoria, with earliest stages evident in 6‐12 hr. A 30‐min exposure to exudate produced an increased frequency of haustoria and a 24‐hr exposure yielded haustorial frequencies equal to the number that were initiated on control plants continuously exposed to root exudate for the 5‐day growth period. The early cytological features of haustorial development are described and the possible significance of haustorial initiation in host recognition is discussed.
Funding Information
  • National Science Foundation (PCM 75‐21042)