[Histological observation on programmed cell death in wheat--leaf rust fungus intreactioin]

The ultrastructural features of mesophyll cell surrounding the fungus in different interaction between wheat and Puccinia recondita f. sp tritici were observed with transmission electron microscopy. In incompatible combination(cv. lorvin 10 x race 162), the nuclei gradually became irregular with highly condensed chromatin towards the nuclear envelope, while the chloroplast became swelling since 12 h to 24 h after inoculation(a.i.). At 48 h a.i., the condensation of the chromatin became more prominent and the chloroplast began to disintegrate. Finally, when some mitochondria started to degrade at 72 h a.i., the nuclei and the chloroplast became disruption completely. During the process, endoplasmic reticulum and vesicles did play a vital role in the further degeneration of other organelles and protoplasmic components just similar to the lysosome acting in the animal cells. These results suggest that the ultrastructural feature of cell death is a form of programmed cell death (PCD). In compatible combination (cv. lorvin 10 x race 165), ultrastructural of mesophyll cell exhibited different features from incompatible combination. At 24 h a.i., the plasmic membrane showed sunken and the chloroplast slightly exhibited swelling. Since 48 h to 72 h a.i., most of the swelling chloroplasts were observed while the other organelles still remained unaltered. At the same time, the hypha and haustorium mother cell in the intracellular space also could be observed.