THE PHYSIOLOGY OF HOST–PARASITE RELATIONS: VIII. EFFECTS OF RUST INFECTION ON ASCORBIC ACID ANDGLUTATHIONE IN WHEAT LEAVES

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Abstract
First seedling leaves of Little Club (susceptible), Khapli I (moderately susceptible), and Khapli (resistant) wheats were inoculated with Puccinia graminis tritici Erikss. and Henn. (Race 15B). Ascorbic (AA) and dehydroascorbic (DHA) acids and glutathione (GSH) were measured at 1–2 day intervals after inoculation until after sporulation. After infection, AA and DHA increased in Little Club and decreased in Khapli. In Khapli the DHA/AA ratio rose sharply 6–8 days after inoculation; in Little Club a similar rise occurred 15–16 days after inoculation. In Khapli I and Little Club, but not in Khapli, GSH increased sharply when sporulation occurred. AA was not detected in uredospores, but DHA was. Oxidized glutathione was not detected in healthy or infected leaves but was present in uredospores. The results are discussed briefly in relation to the changes in auxin content and redox potentials caused by rust infection.