Characteristics of the Infection of Tilletia laevis Kühn (syn. Tilletia foetida (Wallr.) Liro.) in Compatible Wheat

Abstract

<i>Tilletia laevis</i> Kühn (syn. <i>Tilletia foetida</i> (Wallr.) Liro.) causes wheat common bunt, which is one of the most devastating plant diseases in the world. Common bunt can result in a reduction of 80% or even a total loss of wheat production. In this study, the characteristics of <i>T. laevis</i> infection in compatible wheat plants were defined based on the combination of scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and laser scanning confocal microscopy. We found <i>T. laevis</i> could lead to the abnormal growth of wheat tissues and cells, such as leakage of chloroplasts, deformities, disordered arrangements of mesophyll cells and also thickening of the cell wall of mesophyll cells in leaf tissue. What’s more, <i>T. laevis</i> teliospores were found in the roots, stems, flag leaves, and glumes of infected wheat plants instead of just in the ovaries, as previously reported. The abnormal characteristics caused by <i>T. laevis</i> may be used for early detection of this pathogen instead of molecular markers in addition to providing theoretical insights into <i>T. laevis</i> and wheat interactions for breeding of common bunt resistance.