A physiological approach for analysing transgenic and original tobacco cultivars with respect of orobanche spp. control

Four Bulgarian oriental tobacco cultivars two of which transgenic, e.g. conferring resistance to the herbicide Glean® (DuPont, USA) were screened for susceptibility/tolerance to Orobanche spp. by two independent approaches. An artificial tray-growth system was used for analysing the early host/parasite interactions, as well as the differences in the host response to broomrape attack under controlled conditions. Similar experiment was performed in a greenhouse in order to investigate the last stages of the interactions under conditions which are more close to the natural ones. Physiological differences in the response to Orobanche inoculation of the original and transgenic cultivars and the possibilities of using genetically modified crops with respect of broomrape control are discussed. © 1998 Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.