Scanning electron microscopy study of infection structure formation of Puccinia graminis f.sp. tritici in host and non‐host cereal species

The development of uredospore‐derived infection structures of Puccinia graminis f.sp. tritici in wheat, barley, sorghum and maize was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Germ tubes grew over the leaf surface until a stoma was located. An appressorium formed over the stoma and the leaf was penetrated by an infection peg. Within the substomatal chamber of all species the infection peg developed a substomatal vesicle by 6 h post‐inoculation (hpi). from which a primary infection hypha developed parallel to the long axis of the leaf. In wheat, barley and maize, when a primary infection hypha abutted onto a host cell, a septum was laid down between the tip of the hypha and the substomatal vesicle, delimiting a haustorial mother cell by 12 hpi; haustorial mother cells did not form in sorghum. Secondary infection hyphae arose on the substomatal vesicle side of the septum; infection did not progress further in maize, but in wheat and barley secondary infection hyphae branched, and proliferated intercellularly forming the fungal thallus. A haustorial mother cell was delimited when an intercellular hypha abutted onto a host cell. Infection sites with haustorial mother cells were observed at 12 hpi in barley and 24 hpi in wheat. In all four plant species, some atypical substomatal vesicle initials, substomatal vesicles and primary infection hyphae were observed.