It has been shown that tissue cultures of Solanum tuberosum var. Majestic (susceptible) stimulated the growth of Phytophthora infestans. A similar stimulus was produced by cell suspensions of the S. tuberosum var. Orion (resistant), but was not manifested by larger tissue aggregates of this variety. The failure of Orion tissue aggregates to stimulate was independent of the size of the fungal inoculum and was annulled by boiling the Orion tissue. Freezing of both Majestic and Orion tissue aggregates destroyed the stimulus, but freezing followed by boiling or boiling followed by freezing did not. It is suggested that the failure of living Orion tissue aggregates to stimulate the growth of P. infestans was a direct effect of their excluding the fungus.
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