Evaluation of components of partial resistance to oat crown rust using digital image analysis

Digital image analysis is an objective and nondestructive method potentially capable of providing accurate and precise estimates of disease resistance components. This study was conducted to quantify components of partial resistance to crown rust through the analysis of sequential digital images of inoculated leaves of adult oat plants, and to compare components found in two sources of resistance unrelated genetically. Uredinium density, relative infection frequency, latent period, days to first pustule appearance, uredinium size, and disease progress rates were assessed on three oat lines (RS-line 3W-C2R-9-3b, MN-841801, Starter) in two greenhouse experiments. Resistant lines had fewer and smaller uredinia, and these appeared later than in the susceptible check. Relative infection frequency, latent period, and uredinium size were equally important components in the expression of the partial resistance to crown rust, and the two sources of resistance could not be differentiated by any of the variables studied. The analysis of sequential digital images of diseased leaves produced precise estimates of partial resistance components and disease progress rates.