Water relations in cotton plants infected with Phymatotrichum omnivorum
Name:
azu_td_hy_e9791_1982_501_sip1_w.pdf
Size:
2.647Mb
Format:
PDF
Description:
azu_td_hy_e9791_1982_501_sip1_w.pdf
Author
Olsen, Mary Ward.Issue Date
1982Committee Chair
Misaghi, Iraj
Metadata
Show full item recordPublisher
The University of Arizona.Rights
Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author.Abstract
Water relations in cotton plants infected with Phymatotrichum omnivorum were studied to determine the mechanism of wilt development. Relationships between leaf water and osmotic potentials, relative water contents, and diffusive resistances of leaves from diseased and waterstressed healthy plants were similar, indicating that wilting was not due to changes in leaf osmotic regulation. Rates of recovery from wilting, measured as increases in relative water content with time in both diseased and waterstressed healthy plants were identical. There was no significant difference in root dry weight of healthy and diseased plants, indicating that wilting is not a consequence of reduced root area. Resistance to water flow in roots and lower stems increased significantly over those of healthy plants as upper leaves of diseased plants began to wilt. However, resistance to water flow in petioles of diseased plants was unchanged. These results show that wilting in cotton plants is probably the consequence of increased resistance to water flow in roots. Results of a preliminary study indicate that a high-molecular-weight substance produced by the fungus in culture may cause blockage of xylem elements in roots and lower stems and contribute to the increased resistance to water flow.Type
Dissertation-Reproduction (electronic)text
Degree Name
Ph. D.Degree Level
doctoralDegree Program
Plant PathologyGraduate College