At 25°C, in the absence of P. aphanidermatum, primary roots of the C. moschata ×
C. maxima hybrid variety Hercules grew at a consistent rate of 0.78 mm hr-1, not
significantly different from the rate of 0.80 mm hr-1 at which primary roots extended
when seedlings were co-cultivated with P. aphanidermatum (Fig. 2a). Similarly, the lead
distance between the growing primary root tip and the position of the youngest emerging
secondary root was not significantly different between seedlings grown in the presence or
absence of the pathogen (Fig. 2b).