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(American Journal of Botany. 2003;90:857-864.)
© 2003 Botanical Society of America, Inc.

Mycology and Plant Pathology

Susceptibility of clover species to fungal infection: the interaction of leaf surface traits and environment1

Devon J. Bradley2, Gregory S. Gilbert3,4 and Ingrid M. Parker2

2Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, 1156 High St., Santa Cruz, California 95064 USA; 3Department of Environmental Studies, University of California, 1156 High St., Santa Cruz, California 95064 USA

Many foliar pathogens require free water to germinate; therefore, disease pressure should favor plants that are able to repel water. For a suite of 18 sympatric clover species (Trifolium and Medicago, Fabaceae), we evaluated leaf traits affecting leaf wetness and susceptibility to infection by the fungal pathogen Stemphylium sp., causal agent of Stemphylium leaf spot. Spore germination increased with time in free water, and the relative susceptibility of host plants to infection was proportional to the duration of water retention on leaves. Larger leaves captured more water and retained it longer. Unexpectedly, trichomes and leaf wettability did not affect water capture. For clovers planted within natural clover populations at two sites, infection was threefold greater at the wetter site. At the drier site, water retention on the leaf surface was an important predictor of infection rates across host species, but persistent fog and dew at the wetter site reduced the importance of rapid leaf drying. Our results suggest that plant adaptations that reduce water retention on leaves may also reduce disease incidence, but the selective advantage of these traits will vary among habitats.

Key Words: Fabaceaee • foliar diseases • fungal infection • leaf wettability • Medicago • spore germination • Stemphylium • Trifolium






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