Investigation of Host Responses of Different Potato Genotypes at Tissue, Cellular and Subcellular Levels After Infection with Phytophthora infestans

In histological and cytological investigations, the infection process of Phytophthora infestans, the late blight pathogen, was comparatively studied in several potato cultivars and somatic hybrid genotypes and their parents using fluorescence microscopy and electron microscopy methods. The results showed that germination of zoospores of P. infestans and frequency of invading by infection hyphae did not differ among the cultivar-pathogen interactions, but, extension of hyphae in host cells markedly differed among these genotypes. In the susceptible genotypes the pathogen grew rapidly inter- and intracellularly, 12 h after inoculation (hai), and some digital like haustoria were formed and the cytoplasm of the host cells became disorganized. In the resistance genotypes, the pathogen was restricted to the site of initial penetration, although some hyphae could penetrate the epidermal cell, however, the host cells produced resistance responses, such as formed wall appositions when in contact with hyphae, and no haustoria like structures were found. In the somatic hybride genotypes, the host response was different according to their parents as shown by transmission electron microscopy. In the hybrid genotype 1508/2, like in the wild species S. bulbocastanum, no hyphae were found in host cells. In the other genotypes, hyphae of P. infestans spread intercellularly and formed haustoria, but the cytoplasm of hyphae and haustoria was disorganized and host cell resistant responses often appeared, such as, host cells were disorganized and necrotic and cell wall apposition were observed.