Histology of Disease Development in Resistant and Susceptible Cultivars of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Inoculated with Spores of Ascochyta rabiei

Abstract Histological studies were performed on a compatible and an incompatible interaction between chickpea ( Cicer arietinum L.) plants and the fungus Ascochyta rabiei (Pass.) Labr. The time course of infection, development on leaflets and stems of susceptible (ILC 1929) and resistant (ILC 3279) plants was monitored by light or scanning electron microscopy with the aim to compare histological changes as the basis for further work on biochemical changes in this plant-pathogen interaction.
Spores of A. rabiei began to germinate from 12 hpi on and developed a polar germ tube; fungal colonization, secretion of a mucilaginous exudate and appressoria formation (1–3 dpi) were identical on both cultivars. Leaves of susceptible plants were invaded by the fungus directly through the cuticle, the fungus then spread subepidermally followed by a rapid collapse of the leaf tissue (4–6 dpi). Development of leaf spots and fungal pycnidia could be observed 6–8 dpi. The resistant cultivarrapidly responded (24–48 hpi) to fungal infection and cells of the palisade parenchyma exhibited autofluorescence. In later stages of the infection (4–5 dpi) fluorescent areas developed to small necrotic spots all over the leaflet. These necrotic areas, were the result of cell death and a subsequent change in the leaf structure and were characterized by the accumulation of phenolic compounds. Leaves of the resistant cultivar were invaded by the fungus to less than 5%.