Resistance to Phytophthora cinnamomi in callus tissue derived from three avocado cultivars
Calli induced from various plant parts of avocado cultivars Topa Topa (susceptible), Duke 7 (moderately resistant), and Martin Grande (resistant) were inoculated with the root and collar rotting pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi and examined for expression of resistance. Resistance was assessed quantitatively by measuring the rate of hyphal extension across the callus surface from the point of inoculation. Resistance in the callus tissue was associated with sparse, limited mycelial growth, in contrast to prolific, dense growth on and within susceptible callus. Rates of hyphal extension on calli of the resistant ‘Duke 7’ and ‘Martin Grande’ ranged from 1–3 mm day−1 compared with 4–7 mm day−1 on calli of ‘Topa Topa’. This difference in growth was significant (P = 0.05). This is the first report of avocado callus exhibiting resistance to P. cinnamomi and it mirrors that recorded for the whole plant for the three avocado cultivars tested. Thus, the level of resistance expressed by each cultivar appears to be innate whether the host tissue remains in an organized state or is in the form of an undifferentiated callus mass. The basis of the resistance expressed appeared to be largely physiological and (or) biochemical rather than anatomical. Assessing rates of hyphal colonization on undifferentiated callus masses in vitro may provide a new and useful assay for screening and selecting host lines in avocado resistant to P. cinnamomi. Key words: callus, avocado, in vitro, resistance, Phytophthora cinnamomi, Persea.