Morphological modification in wheat seedlings infected by Fusarium oxysporum

Fusarium oxysporum is a ubiquitous plant pathogen mostly present in soil. This fungus causes diseases in a range of crop plants including cereals. In the present study seven days old wheat seedlings were inoculated with freshly cultured F oxysporum spores. Phenotypic observations revealed highly degenerative growth of the seedlings post inoculation. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) analysis of the seedlings showed damaged epidermal layer with fully exposed parenchyma and loosely arranged cells. Fungal inoculation was given at the root, however, maximum damage was observed in the leaves of the seedlings which indicated that the fungus could travel from the base to the aerial parts of the seedling.