Metabolism of Barley Leaves Inoculated with Erysiphe graminis Mérat

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Abstract
Inoculating Proctor barley leaves with Erysiphe graminis decreased rates of photosynthesis, after an initial lag period, and increased respiration. Increasing the area inoculated progressively decreased rates of photosynthesis, but the effects cannot be attributed to a simple loss of leaf area. When less than 30 per cent of a leaf was inoculated, decreases were equivalent to area losses greater than those inoculated; when more than 30 per cent was inoculated the photo-synthetic losses were equivalent to area losses less than those inoculated. Although the relative effects of E. graminis on photosynthesis and respiration were of the same order, the absolute effects on photosynthesis were greater than those on respiration. Inoculating 30 per cent of a leaf decreased photosynthesis by 5–6 mg CO2/dm2/hr from 12.9 in the uninoculated controls to 7.3. Respiration increased by 0.6 mg CO2/dm/hr, from 1.7 to 2.3-