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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Wooster, Ohio » Application Technology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #194828
Title: USE OF LEAF TEMPERATURE TO ASSESS THE RESPONSE OF GERANIUM PLANTS FOLLOWING EXPOSURE TO SOIL PATHOGENS

Author
item Omer, Medani
item Frantz, Jonathan
item Locke, James
item Krause, Charles

Submitted to: Phytopathology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/27/2006
Publication Date: 6/1/2006
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.

Interpretive Summary:

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.