Direct infection of embryogenic tissue cultures of haploidBrassica napus with resting spores ofPlasmodiophora brassicae.

A direct infection of cultured tissue with resting spores of the obligate endoparasitePlasmodiophora brassicae has been made possible by using stem embryo cultures of haploid rape. The fungus develops and completes its lifecycle in the cultured cells. The results are discussed in connection with the possibility of using this system to select for resistance to the pathogen.