Introduction

Wheat (Triticum aestivum) is one of the most important staple food crops. China produces over 120 million tons of wheat per year. Wheat is the third most important crop overall, after rice and maize (Huang et al. 2015). Z12 and Z31 on the Zadoks scale provide the most complete description of wheat plant growth stages (Tottman et al. 1979). Disease, a main biotic stress, intensely affects plant productivity, growth, and reduces the quality and quantity of infected plants. Dwarf bunt, which infects wheat, is a soilborne disease caused by the fungus Tilletia controversa, which belongs to class Basidiomycetes and requires low temperature (5 °C) for spore germination (Muhae-Ud-Din, et al. 2020a, b; Liu et al. 2020). T. controversa is a quarantine pathogen and remains a major issue for trade between the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the United States of America (USA) (Mathre 1996). Yield losses can reach up to 70–80% under severe infection in cold areas (Purdy et al. 1963). T. controversa infection can cause alterations in the cellular and subcellular structures of susceptible plants more severely than resistant plants (Ren et al. 2021). The root epidermal, leaf mesophyll, and vascular tissues are more severely infected in susceptible cultivar than in resistant cultivar at the tillering stage (Z21) after T. controversa infection (Xu et al. 2021).

Epidermal cells have key roles in plant defence to protect cellular organelles (Lindenthal et al. 2005; Berger et al. 2007; Nadal and Flexas 2018; Xu et al. 2021). Mesophyll cells have an important role in photosynthesis and provide energy to plants (Vallad and Subbarao 2008). CO2 diffusion through mesophyll cells is a complex process that determines the rate of photosynthesis in plants (Nadal and Flexas 2018). Plant pathogens alter the normal structures of epidermal and mesophyll cells (Lindenthal et al. 2005; Berger et al. 2007), but tissue alterations are more common in susceptible cultivars than in resistant cultivars (Muhae-Ud-Din et al. 2020a, b; Xu et al. 2021). The epidermal and mesophyll cells of susceptible cultivars were more infected than those of resistant cultivars of lettuce crops after Verticillium dahlia infection (Vallad and Subbarao 2008). Pereira et al. observed differences in the infection process of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. phaseoli in bean cultivars and found that xylem cells of the resistant cultivar produced blocking substances that prevent the spread of fungi (Pereira et al. 2013). Fungal hyphae in wheat-resistant cultivars were generally retarded compared with the spread and development of hyphae in tissues of susceptible cultivars (Hansen 1958; Xu et al. 2021). The epidermal and mesophyll cells of resistant cultivars were infected slightly compared with susceptible wheat cultivars (Woolman 1930). Rhynchosporium secalis alters the plasma membrane structure and cytoplasmic materials in susceptible cultivars of barley, but colonization of hyphae was retarded in the cell wall of resistant cultivars (Xi et al. 2000). F. oxysporum and F. solani infect xylem vessels and mitochondria only in susceptible cultivars of purple passion fruit (Ortiz et al. 2014). In grapes, callose and secretions were deposited around the stomata in the resistant cultivar, whereas neither callose nor secretion was observed in the susceptible cultivar (Gindro et al. 2003). Similarly, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum growth was impeded at 24 hpi only in resistant rapeseed (Garg et al. 2013). Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici only infects susceptible cultivars and changes plant morphology (Moldenhauer et al. 2006). Until now, important plant growth stages (seedling growth and stem elongation) in wheat against T. controversa were not investigated. We describe here the histopathological changes at seedling growth (Z12) and stem elongation (Z31) in roots, stems, and leaves in resistant and susceptible wheat cultivars in response to T. controversa.

Materials and methods

Plant and fungal materials

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cv. Mianyang 26 and CU42 seeds were collected from the Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China. Mianyang 26 is resistant, and CU42 is susceptible to T. controversa. Blair Goates kindly provided the pathogenic fungus T. controversa from the United States Department of Agricultural, Agricultural Research Service (USDA, ARS), Idaho, USA.

Culture of T. controversa teliospores

The adjusted concentration (approximately 100 × 106) of T. controversa teliospores was cultured on 2% soil agar medium plates. The cultured plates were placed in an incubator (MLR-352H, Japan) at 5 °C and 50% relative humidity for 60 days. Teliospore germination and hyphal growth were observed under a fully automatic inverted research grade microscope (IX83, OLYMPUS, Japan). Fungal mycelium was harvested in laminar flow using 5 mL ddH2O (TransGen, China) in laminar flow maintaining a 106 cfu/mL concentration and the suspension was stored at 5 °C in an incubator (MLR-352H, Japan) until injection into the plants.

Inoculation of T. controversa in plants

Wheat plants were grown in pots under a 14 h light/10 h dark (5 ± 2 °C and 70% RH) regime. The pots were filled with soil and organic matter at a ratio of 2:1 and kept in a growth chamber (ARC-36, Percival, USA). Ten plants were planted in every pot of both cultivars. Fifty plants were inoculated with T. controversa hyphae at the seedling growth stage (Z11) by following the method of our laboratory (Muhae-Ud-Din et al. 2020a, b), and fifty plants were used as controls of both cultivars. The inoculation was repeated after a 1-day interval, and the fungal hyphal injections continued for 5 days. After successful infection, thirty plants of both resistant and susceptible cultivars were selected for scanning electron microscopy. The same number of plants was selected from the control group for microscopy. Plants treated with ddH2O (TransGen, China) were used as the control group in this study.

Molecular detection of T. controversa

DNA was extracted from wheat leaves using a DNA extraction kit (Tiangen, China) by following the kit instructions. The DNA concentration was adjusted to 1 µg/µL for each sample. The sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) marker was used for molecular detection of the pathogen. The primer sequences for the SCAR marker were ISSR859-140AF: 5′-TGGTGGTCGGGAAAGATTAGA-3 and ISSR859-511AR: 5′-GGGACGAAGGCATCAAGAAG-3′. The PCR amplification procedure was as follows: initial denaturation at 94 °C for 5 min, followed by 30 cycles of amplification with denaturation at 94 °C for 20 s, annealing at 94 °C for 30 s, and extension at 72 °C for 30 s, and then a final extension at 72 °C for 7 min. After PCR, gel electrophoresis was performed at 150 V for 30 min, gel was stained with ethidium bromide (APE × BIO), and expected bands were visualized using the gel documentation system (WSE-5200 Printgraph 2 M, ATTO, Korea). Successful infection was indicated by positive amplification of 372 bp.

Scanning electron microscopy

The roots, leaves, and stems of fungi-infected and control plants at the Z12 and Z31 stages were collected from both cultivars and washed with ddH2O for further processing. Twenty five plants were used for Z12 stage, while remaining twenty five plants were used for Z31 stage for fungi-infected and control plants. The root and stem segments adjacent to the base were taken and sectioned to lengths of 5 mm, whereas leaf segments were adjusted to 5 mm × 5 mm in length and width, respectively. Samples were immediately placed in a 3% glutaraldehyde solution for solidification for 48 h and then washed with phosphoric acid buffer (APE × BIO) several times to remove the excess glutaraldehyde; they were stored in osmium acid (OSO4) (1%) (APE × BIO) at room temperature (25 °C) for 1.5 h. Subsequently, dehydration was carried out in a series of ethanol (APE × BIO) concentrations (30%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, and 100%), and the dehydration time of each stage was more than 20 min. After dehydration with an ethanol gradient and osmium acid (APE × BIO), the critical carbon dioxide (CO2) point drying method was used to dry the sample (Segado et al. 2016). The samples were sprayed with a gold metal film and observed under a scanning electron microscope (S-570, HITACHI, Japan) (Segado et al. 2016).

Results

Molecular detection of T. controversa

Successful infection was confirmed by specific amplification (372 bp) of T. controversa DNA in both resistant and susceptible cultivars (Fig. S1). After conformation, samples were subjected to scanning electron microscopy (SEM) investigation.

Comparison of root, stem, and leaf tissue structures of resistant and susceptible cultivars using scanning electron microscopy at the seedling growth stage (Z12)

Based on the resistant and susceptible cultivars, in root cells, as shown in Fig. 1, there were large differences in the parenchyma cells of fungi-infected plants of the susceptible cultivar compared with their control plants. The size of the xylem tissues in parenchyma cells of infected samples was large and loose compared with control samples (Fig. 1a, b); however, few differences were observed in parenchyma cells of infected and control samples of the resistant cultivar (Fig. 1e, f). Histological changes were observed in root epidermal cells of fungi-infected and control samples in both cultivars. In the infected susceptible cultivar, epidermal cells were severely infected, loosely arranged, and fungal damage was observed on the epidermal cells (Fig. 1d), but in control samples, the epidermal cells were compact, dense, and closely packed (Fig. 1c). However, there was no obvious change in epidermal cells of the resistant cultivar in either fungal-infected or control samples (Fig. 1g, h). Additionally, there is no obvious difference in parenchyma cells (Fig. 1a, e) and epidermal cells (Fig. 1c, g) of control resistant and susceptible plants. However, some structural differences were noted, which might be of genotype difference of both cultivars.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Histological characteristics of root tissues at the seedling growth stage (Z12). a Parenchyma cells of the control plants in the susceptible cultivar, b parenchyma cells of the infected plants in the susceptible cultivar, c epidermal cells of the control plants in the susceptible cultivar, d epidermal cells of the infected plants in the susceptible cultivar, e parenchyma cells of the control plants in the resistant cultivar, f parenchyma cells of the infected plants in the resistant cultivar, g epidermal cells of the control plants in the resistant cultivar, and h epidermal cells of the infected plants in the resistant cultivar. White arrows in a–h indicate parenchyma cells and epidermal cells of roots. Scale bars, abef = 25 µm and cdgh = 100 µm

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For the stem cells, plants of the first node were examined by scanning electron microscopy. The stem vascular system of the fungus-infected susceptible cultivar was loose and reduced in rigidity, and most stem cells changed their shape compared with those in the control susceptible cultivar (Fig. 2a, b). However, the stem vascular system of the fungus-infected resistant cultivar and their control samples did not share any obvious symptoms (Fig. 2c, d).

Fig. 2
figure 2

Histological characteristics of stem tissues at the seedling growth stage (Z12). a Stem cell structure of the control plants in the susceptible cultivar, b stem cell structure of the infected plants in the susceptible cultivar, c stem cell structure of the control plants in the resistant cultivar, and d stem cell structure of the infected plants in the resistant cultivar. White arrows in a–d indicate vascular bundles in stem cells. Scale bar = 20 µm

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For the mesophyll cells, fungi-infected leaves and their respective controls of both resistant and susceptible cultivars were examined under scanning electron microscopy. The results revealed that few differences were observed in the samples of the infected susceptible cultivar and their respective controls; vascular bundles were closely packed in the control group compared with the infected group (Fig. 3a, b). However, no obvious differences were noted between the fungus-infected resistant cultivar and the control group (Fig. 3c, d). All the above results indicated that fungal hyphae affected root, stem, and leaf tissues of the susceptible cultivar more harshly than those of the resistant cultivar at the Z12 stage.

Fig. 3
figure 3

Histological characteristics of leaf tissues at the seedling growth stage (Z12). a Mesophyll cells of the control plants in the susceptible cultivar, b mesophyll cells of the infected plants in the susceptible cultivar, c mesophyll cells of the control plants in the resistant cultivar, and d mesophyll cells of the infected plants in the resistant cultivars. White arrows in a–d indicate mesophyll cells in leaves. Scale bar = 50 µm

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Comparison of root, stem, and leaf tissue structures of resistant and susceptible cultivars using scanning electron microscopy at the stem elongation stage (Z31)

The roots, stems, and leaves of fungi-infected resistant and susceptible cultivars and their respective controls were also examined at the stem elongation stage (Z31) for further confirmation. At the stem elongation stage (Z31), parenchyma cells of resistant and susceptible roots were examined under scanning electron microscopy. The parenchyma cells of the susceptible cultivar were damaged, and fungal hyphae were seen in the vascular tissues of parenchyma cells compared with control samples (Fig. 4a, b). For parenchyma cells, the morphology of the resistant cultivar did not show any obvious changes between fungi-infected and control samples (Fig. 4e, f). For epidermal cells of roots for Z31, root epidermal cells of the fungal infected susceptible cultivar were harshly damaged, vascular bundles lost their strength, root hairs were sparse, and fungal hyphae were seen on epidermal cells (Fig. 4d). In the control group, the epidermal cells were closely packed (Fig. 4c). We found fungal hyphae in root epidermal cells of the fungus-infected resistant cultivar, and slight damage was observed in cells compared with control samples (Fig. 4g, h).

Fig. 4
figure 4

Histological characteristics of the root tissues at the elongation stage (Z31). a Parenchyma cells of the control susceptible cultivar, b parenchyma cells of the infected plants in the susceptible cultivar, c epidermal cells of the control plants in the susceptible cultivar, d epidermal cells of the infected plants in the susceptible cultivar, e parenchyma cells of the control plants in the resistant cultivar, f parenchyma cells of the infected plants in the resistant cultivar, g epidermal cells of the control plants in the resistant cultivar, and h epidermal cells of the infected plants in the resistant cultivar. White arrows in a–h indicate parenchyma cells and epidermal cells of roots. Yellow arrows in d, h indicate hyphae in the epidermal cells. Scale bars, ab = 25 µm, ef = 50 µm, and cdgh = 200 µm

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For the stem cells, fungi-infected, control resistant, and susceptible cultivars were analyzed at the Z31 stage. As shown in Fig. 5, the vascular system of the stem of the fungus-infected susceptible cultivar was harshly infected, vascular pores were filled with hyphae, and the shape of the cells changed compared with that of the control group (Fig. 5a, b). In contrast, the stem vascular system between fungi-infected resistant and fungi-susceptible cultivars was not obviously infected and showed a similar vascular system structure (Fig. 5c, d).

Fig. 5
figure 5

Histological characteristics of stem tissues at the stem elongation stage (Z31). a Stem cell structure of the control plants in the susceptible cultivar, b stem cell structure of the infected plants in the susceptible cultivar, c stem cell structure of the control plants in the resistant cultivar, and d stem cell structure of the infected plants in the resistant cultivar. White arrows a–d indicate vascular bundles in stem cells. Scale bar = 50 µm

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For leaf mesophyll cells at Z31, the infected susceptible cultivar showed cell abnormalities, including vascular bundles that were loosely packed and pores in vascular bundles that increased in size (Fig. 6b). However, in the control samples, the mesophyll cells were normal (Fig. 6a). In the resistant cultivar, very slight modifications were observed in mesophyll cells of fungus-infected samples (Fig. 6d) compared with control samples (Fig. 6c). All of the above results showed that T. controversa infected and changed the morphology of roots, stems, and leaves more harshly in the susceptible cultivar than in the resistant cultivar at seedling growth (Z12) and stem elongation (Z31).

Fig. 6
figure 6

Histological characteristics of leaf tissues at the stem elongation stage (Z31): a mesophyll cells of the control plants in the susceptible cultivar, b mesophyll cells of the infected plants in the susceptible cultivar, c mesophyll cells of the control plants in the resistant cultivar, and d mesophyll cells of the infected plants in the resistant cultivar. White arrows in a–d indicate mesophyll cells in leaves. Scale bar = 50 µm

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Discussion

In this study, scanning electron microscopy was used to investigate the histological changes in resistant and susceptible cultivars at the Z12 and stem Z31 stages against T. controversa, which showed compatibility between T. controversa and wheat plants. In the susceptible cultivar, fungal hyphae reached the growing point most early by following the spaces of connective cells and deformed the parenchyma and epidermis cells in both the Z12 and Z31 stages. From these infected sites, mycelia became permanently established at the growing point, and tillers initiated, always before intermodal elongation, and thus assured sporulation of the fungus. According to the results, the parenchyma cells, epidermal cells, and mesophyll cells of the susceptible cultivar were much more affected by T. controversa at Z12 and Z31 than those of the resistant cultivar. Our interpretation of fungal development of T. controversa in the susceptible cultivar is similar to that described by Xu et al. (2021) in their studies. Other reports showed that the growth of P. striiformis was retarded in wheat-resistant cultivars compared with susceptible cultivars (Zhang et al. 2012; Riaz and Hickey 2019). Structural alterations were seen in the tissues of only resistant cultivars after pathogen infection, including the formation of elicitor substances in xylem cells (Shi et al. 1992; Hall et al. 2011), callose (Gindro et al. 2003), reactive oxygen species (Lu and Yao 2018), tyloses (Bishop and Cooper 1984; Zhang et al. 2015), and the formation of gel proteins (Andersen et al. 2018). The parenchyma cells of resistant plants were more compact, similar to that described by Pereira et al. (2013) in their studies. The vascular bundles were more compact and closely packed in resistant cultivars than in susceptible cultivars (Hall et al. 2011). Some studies have shown that epidermal cells of resistant plants alter after pathogen infection for some time and then recover to a normal shape (Xi et al. 2000). The formation of a protective layer of lignin, cellulose, and arabinoxylan molecules in the cell wall of resistant plants in response to Sporisorium scitamineum infection can increase the resistance level against pathogens (Marques et al. 2018). Nutrient uptake from the vascular bundle of stem cells easily occurred in resistant plants compared with susceptible plants after Rhynchosporium secalis infection (Xi et al. 2000). Based on our findings, we agree with Fernandez and Ruben Duran (1978) and Xu et al. (2021) that hyphae affect and alter the morphological structures much more harshly in wheat-susceptible cultivars than in wheat-susceptible cultivars. Leaf mesophyll cells are key players in the photosynthetic process and have a role in increasing resistance against pathogens (Scholes and Rolfe 2004; Ren et al. 2021). Our results showed that mesophyll cells of the susceptible cultivar were dramatically affected by T. controversa at both the Z12 and Z31 stages but not in the resistant cultivar. Our root cell results support the results of Zhang et al. (2015), in which Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum dramatically altered the structures of root cells in the susceptible cultivar compared with the resistant cultivar. All of the above results indicated that T. controversa affects the roots, stems, and leaf cells of the susceptible cultivar much more severely than those of the resistant cultivar at both the Z12 and Z31 stages. In conclusion, T. controversa penetrates root tissues during the seedling stage and then proliferates to the above parts of the plants. With the increase in hyphae in later periods, alterations in the tissues and cells increased, including stem and leaf tissues, which will provide important information on the response of wheat to the pathogen.