The Use of Interactions in Dual Cultures in vitro to Evaluate the Pathogenicity of Fungi and Susceptibility of Host Plant Genotypes

Abstract

A new method of research, that shows the relationship (interactions) between the two organisms involving the stimulation or inhibition of their growth was developed in the eighties. This is dual cultures research (involving two organisms), in which one of the organisms is callus (in vitro cultured plant tissue that covers plant wounds in embryonic or non-embryonic stadium), while the second organism is the studied fungal species. Conclusions Many experiments were carried out using pathogenic, endophytic, ectomycorrhizal or saprotrophic fungi and the embryonic stadium of in vitro cultured host plant tissue. Results of these experiments indicated diverse applicability of dual cultures in forest practice. According to the Author of this paper, developing reliable in vitro assays may provide a basis for The Use of Interactions in Dual Cultures in vitro to Evaluate the Pathogenicity of Fungi and Susceptibility of Host Plant Genotypes http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/53214 297 the evaluation of the pathogenicity and the degree of threat posed by fungi. This may also enable the selection on embryonic level the plant genotype that is more resistant to the pathogen, which is particularly important for fungi known for their ability of epiphytic occurrence. Moreover, the studies of dual in vitro cultures may provide more detailed results which would be the basis for determining which species of endophytic fungi are able to cause the disease in trees under stress conditions. Interactions observed in dual cultures may be used to assess the biotrophic properties of various fungal species or lower taxa (strains, varieties, physiological races). These studies may provide the basis for more proper determining of etiology of many diseases and to determine the correlation between the type of protein produced by the callus and the degree of fungal virulence. Conditions, which plant tissues (callus) are subject to during conducting dual cultures induce anatomical changes in callus cells, which may be used in identifying the mechanism of stress factor effect on cyto-physiological changes in plant cells. In the case of positive results of analyses, the dual cultures may give rise to new techniques used in pathogenicity studies in forest pathology.