Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important crop cultivated successfully worldwide and in Egypt, which could be infected by Cephalosporium maydis. The causal organism of maize late wilt is a serious soil-borne fungus threats corn plants in the field. It causes great losses in the yield maize production reached to more than 50% at 70% disease incidence. Two isolates of C. maydis were screened according to their virulence for detecting the common antigen(s) between them and two maize hibred lines, Sc.10(resistant) and TWC.352(moderat susceptible). Specific antigens related to the isolate virulence and serological crossed-immunoelectrophorsis technique were used. In homologous reactions, 14, 9, 6 and 6 precipitin peaks were detected when antigens of Cephalosporium isolates (No.3 and No. 9), maize lines Sc.10 and TWC.352 were electrophorized against their antibodies. In heterologous reactions, 6 and 6 precipitin peaks were detected when antigens of Sc.10 and TWC.352 were electrophorized against antibodies of Cephalosporium isolate No. 3, respectively. However, 5 and 6 precipitin peaks were detected when antigens of Sc.10 and TWC.352 were electrophorized against antibodies of Cephalosporium isolate No. 9. Increasing number of common antigens to the pathogen was paralleled with enhancing cultivars susceptibility to the same pathogen and vice versa.This indicate that isolate No.3 more virulent than isolate No.9.The Crossed-immunoelectrophorsis with intermediate gel technique revealed that 4 specific precipitin peaks to isolate No.3, while 3 specific precipitin peaks to isolate No.9.It clear that isolate No.3 has one precipitin peaks may be associated with its virulence, name as protein related pathogenesis (PRS). |
