YERLAN DUTBAYEV*, RAFIQ ISLAM, MIRANDA J. HAUS AND BRAD DAY
Michigan State University, Molecular Plant Science Building 1066, Bogue Street Rm 4200, East Lansing, MI 48824-6254, USA
*(e-mail : yerlan.dutbaev@kaznau.kz; Contact : (747) 961-8874)
(Received : February 3, 2020; Accepted : April 8, 2020)
ABSTRACT
Soil-borne fungal pathogens are one of the causative agents affecting dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) production worldwide. The objective of the study was to evaluate the impact of Fusarium infections on stomatal functions and other physiological processes associated with dry bean production. Dry bean physiology was studied with the Multispeq device on photosyng.org platform to measure stomatal aperture and density using ImageJ, Excel and R software, respectively. The quantitative measurements showed that stomatal index was impacted by Fusarium infection and dry bean genotypes with significant interaction. Number of pavement cells, chlorophyll fractions – PhiNPQ, PhiNO and leaf angle had been impacted by the predictors. The fungus infection had increased the indices of the number of pavement cells and chlorophyll fraction PhiNPQ with the associated decrease in the chlorophyll fraction PhiNO indices. More comprehensive work was needed to evaluate the impact of F. oxysporum infection and drought stress on dry bean physiology processes.
Key words : Multispeq, dry beans, stomatal function, physiology, Fusarium, genotype, infection