botanyoneFusarium wilted cucumber (Cucumis sativus) plants are associated with water imbalance and leaf wilting. In order to investigate whether Fusarium wilt arises from water shortage, Sun et al. tested physiological responses to water stress and Fusarium infection.
Responses of cucumber leaves varied according to the leaf regions affected. Under water stress, the leaf edge was significantly impaired while central sections were less adversely affected. In contrast, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum infection caused serious membrane damage and higher leaf temperature in the centre. The leaf region responses and different osmotic alteration illustrates the non-causal relationship between Fusarium wilt and water transport blockage.
