ARS | Publication request: USE OF LEAF TEMPERATURE TO ASSESS THE RESPONSE OF GERANIUM PLANTS FOLLOWING EXPOSURE TO SOIL PATHOGENS

Submitted to: Phytopathology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: March 27, 2006
Publication Date: June 1, 2006
Repository URL: http://www.ars.usda.gov/sp2UserFiles/Place/36071000/Posters/Omer194828_2006_LeafTemp_APS.pdf
Citation: Omer, M.A., Frantz, J., Locke, J.C., Krause, C.R. 2006. Use of leaf temperature to assess the response of geranium plants following exposure to soil pathogens. Phytopathology. 96:S87.

Technical Abstract: Early response of geranium plants (Pelargonium x hortorum cv. "Maverick Red") exposed to soil pathogens was assessed by measuring changes in leaf temperature. Differences between air temperature and leaf temperature were noticed 7 days after exposure to pathogens. Differences were greatest between week 3 and week 4. No marked difference in disease severity was observed among most of the treatments; although plants treated with P. ultimum exhibited more stunted growth in comparison to other treatments. Differences in temperature leveled off 6 weeks after exposure and plants showed similar growth pattern thereafter. Because most geraniums infected with soil pathogens are usually either asymptomatic or recover when the plants are grown under optimum conditions, it can be difficult to diagnose infection. Therefore, leaf temperature measurements are a versatile way of rapidly examining whether plants are under stress when incited by soil pathogens.