Abstract
The hypersensitive death of cells in aged potato tuber disks infected by an incompatible race of P. infestans is delayed by treatment with 0.1 mM 2,4-dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP) or sodium azide. This inhibition of cell death was reversed by addition of ATP, but not by ADP. Cells infected by a compatible race survived for a long time, and ATP had no effect on the length of survival. Little effect of 0.1 mM 2,4-DNP, sodium azide, or 1 mM ATP on penetration and intracellular hyphal growth of an incompatible race (race 0) of P. infestans was observed. ATP might affect host processes during hypersensitive death of cells of aged potato tuber disks infected by the incompatible race. ATP had only a minor effect on the occurrence of hypersensitive death of cells of fresh tuber disks. The lack of potential of fresh disks to react hypersensitively to infection by the incompatible race was probably not due to ATP deficiency.