Early vascular defense reactions of cotton roots infected with a defoliating mutant strain of Verticillium dahliae

Susceptible and resistant cotton lines were cytologically and histochemically investigated for their defense reactions to a highly aggressive and defoliating strain of Verticillium dahliae, a fungus responsible for vascular wilt. Cytochemistry showed that early responses consisted of reinforcement in structural barriers with polysaccharides, including callose and cellulose. Ultrastructural modifications of parenchyma cells of the vascular tissues were associated with strong production of terpenoids and phenolics. These defense reactions were detected early in roots of the resistant line, one to four days after inoculation, while they were seen later in roots of the susceptible line.