Effect of Neovossia indica on embryo culture of wheat [Triticum aestivum (L.) em Theil] and its reflections on in vivo resistance

Abstract

In an effort to study the effect of Neovossia indica on embryo culture of wheat [Triticum aestivum (L.) em Theil], 17, 20 and 23 days old embryos were excised from immature grains of different wheat genotypes. These were cuitured on modified MS medium in presence and absence of the pathogen. The pathogen had no effect on callus initiation and callusing frequency. Some of the 23 days old embryos from the wheat genotypes formed a circular inhibition zone (IZ) around themselves where no growth of pathogen could be seen. The formation of IZ was observed around every embryo excised from mature grains and cultured in presence of the pathogen. The mean diameter of IZ was found to be 3.19 cm in resistant, 2.26 cm in susceptible and 1.62 cm in highly susceptible genotypes showing coefficient of infection less than 5%, 5 to 20 % and more than 20 %, respectively at adult plant stage.