Biotic factors affecting the expression of partial resistance in pea to ascochyta blight in a detached stipule assay

The expression of partial resistance in pea to ascochyta blight (caused by Mycosphaerella pinodes) was studied in a detached stipule assay by quantifying two resistance components (fleck coalescence and lesion expansion) using the method of point inoculation of stipules. Factors determining optimal conditions for the observation of partial resistance are spore concentration, the age of the fungal culture prior to spore harvest and the pathogenicity of the isolate used for testing. Partial resistance was not expressed when spore concentration was high or when the selected isolate was aggressive. Furthermore, assessments of components of partial resistance were highly correlated with disease severity in a seedling test. A screening protocol was developed based on inoculations of detached stipules to study partial resistance in pea. To simplify the rating process, a more comprehensive disease rating scale which took into account fleck coalescence and lesion expansion was tested by screening a large number of genotypes.