Tiller and Rhizome Growth of Water-Stressed Poa pratensis 'Merion' Infected by Ustilago striiformis or Urocystis agropyri

Abstract

Growth of tillers and rhizomes of Poa pratensis Merion' infected by Ustilago striiformis (cause of of stripe smut) or Urocystis agropyri (cause of flag smut) was evaluated in nutrient solution alone and amended with polyethylene glycol to provide increasing levels of osmotically induced water stress. U. striiformis had no effect on total dry weight of rhizomes per shoot but decreased the percentage of rhizome dry weight as a portion of total shoot dry weight. Dry weight of tillers per shoot increased and was a greater percentage of total shoot dry weight than the percentage of total shoot dry weight in healthy plants (...)