Histopathological Studies on Pearlmillet Infected with Sclerospora graminicola (Sacc.) Shroet.

Abstract

Histopathological studies of the downy mildew/ green ear infected pearl millet, the mycelium of the causal fungus was traced from the basal root to the apical meristem of infected seedlings indicating thereby that the infection is systemic. The mycelium was intercellular with finger shaped haustoria. The downy growth revealed stout, club shaped and asymmetrically branched sporangiophores seen emerging through the stomatal opening. The sections at different ages of oospore showed the development of the endo-and exospore walls. It was seen that the endospore wall of the young oospore was thin but gradually became thick with advancement in age. The exospore wall also showed similar development till maturity, at which the spores attained the normal shape and size.