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Physiology and Biochemistry

Ozone-Enhanced Leaching of Onion Leaves in Relation to Lesion Production by Botrytis cinerea. D. L. Rist, Graduate research assistant, Department of Plant Pathology, New York State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca 14853; J. W. Lorbeer, professor, Department of Plant Pathology, New York State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca 14853. Phytopathology 74:1217-1220. Accepted for publication 16 May 1984. Copyright 1984 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-74-1217.

Analysis of dew from leaves of onion plants exposed or not exposed to 0.18 ppm (353 μg/m³) ozone (O₃) for 4 hr indicated a substantial increase in leachate from O₃-injured cells. The electrical conductivity and carbohydrate concentration were greater in dew from exposed plants than in dew from unexposed plants. Conidia of Botrytis cinerea suspended in dew from the oldest nonsenescing leaf (leaf 1) of O₃-exposed plants induced significantly more lesions per square centimeter of leaf surface when used to inoculate leaf 1 of unexposed plants than did conidia suspended in dew from leaf 1 of unexposed plants.