A STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF MILDEW INFECTION ON THE REACTION OF WHEAT VARIETIES TO BROWN RUST

The effect of the presence of Erysiphe graminis tritici on the reactions of each of five wheats, Malakoff, Democrat, Mediterranean, Hussar and Webster, to Puccinia triticina was studied. Under normal environmental conditions, mildew increased the susceptibility to rust of Malakoff and Democrat, though not, except in isolated instances, that of Mediterranean or Hussar. High light intensities enhanced the effect of mildew on the reaction of Democrat to P. triticina. The susceptibility of Webster to rust was unaffected or decreased by the presence of mildew.
In all varieties there was a decided tendency for rust and mildew to develop on different parts of the leaf, and when a leaf was heavily mildewed the development of P. triticina was sometimes almost entirely inhibited. The reason for this is obscure, since spores of P. triticina and E. g. tritici germinate well in each others presence, and cytological studies revealed several cases of the presence of both mildew and rust haustoria in a single living host cell. Anatomical investigations also showed that the effect of mildew on rust infection was confined to rust pustules within 1 mm. of mildew colonies.
The results obtained are in accordance with Gassner's theory that susceptibility to rust is due to the presence of certain specific proteins in the host leaf.