The Host-Pathogen Interaction of Alfalfa and Stemphylium botryosum

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Abstract
The nature of the host-pathogen interaction of alfalfa and S. botryosum was investigated by histological means. In a resistant plant of checkered alfalfa (Medicago cancellata), growth of the pathogen was inhibited and restricted to the cells surrounding the infection site. The host response was characterized as hypersensitive. On a susceptible host (M. sativa) the pathogen grew luxuriantly and produced abundant typical Stemphylium leafspot symptoms. Toxins produced by S. botryosum play an important role in disease development, and their relationship to resistance and susceptibility was established. On susceptible plants, a crude filtrate from a culture medium inoculated with S. botryosum produced symptoms identical to those incited by the fungus. The resistant host was unaffected by the filtrate. A positive correlation between toxin test scores and those obtained by inoculation with the pathogen permitted the use of toxin tests as an improved rapid screening technique for resistance.

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