Detection and validation of EST‐derived SNPs for poplar leaf rust Melampsora medusae f. sp. deltoidae

We report the discovery, characterization and validation of 118 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for poplar leaf rust Melampsora medusae f. sp. deltoidae identified using a gene‐targeted approach in an expressed sequence tag (EST) library. We developed a genotyping assay using the iPLEX? primer extension method for two multiplex assays of 28 and 22 SNPs.     

Host–pathogen relationship between Salix and Melampsora sheds light on the parentage of some biomass willows

The association between willow ( Salix ) and rust ( Melampsora ) is highly specific. Willows named Salix burjatica , S. dasyclados ( S. × dasyclados ) and S. × calodendron are important in renewable-energy plantations in the UK and western Europe. There has been much controversy over their origin, species status and nomenclature. It has been suggested that they have originated from hybridization between. S. caprea , S. viminalis and S. cinerea . In the present work, 59 willow clones were investigated through morphological examination and detached leaf inoculation using willow differentials, for their association, in southwest England, with M. capraearum and three pathotypes of Melampsora epitea (Me-A, B and C). M. capraearum was found on all clones of S. caprea and its hybrids with S. aurita ; Me-A on all S. viminalis clones; Me-B on wild S. cinerea , S. × calodendron , S. × dasyclados 'De Biardii 445' and S . 'Spaethii'; Me-C on all S. burjatica clones and most S. × dasyclados clones. Both M. caprearum and Me-A infected all S. × sericans ( S. caprea × viminalis ) clones and S. × dasyclados 'LA041/03'. We suggest that S. × dasyclados 'LA041/03' should be treated as S. × sericans ( S. caprea × S. viminalis ); S. burjatica , S. dasyclados and S. × dasyclados as synonyms; S. × dasyclados 'De Biardii 445' as S. × calodendron 'De Biardii 445'; and S . 'Spaethii' as S. × calodendron 'Spaethii'.     

Role of topography sensing for infection-structure differentiation in cereal rust fungi

Over 90% of the germ tubes of Puccinia graminis tritici (wheat stem rust) and Puccinia hordei (barley brown rust) differentiate appressoria on encountering stomata.There has been controversy as to the role of host topographical signals in the highly precise and efficient induction of these infection structures over stomata by cereal rusts. In the present study, polystyrene replicas of microfabricated silicon wafers, bearing precise microtopographies of defined dimensions, were used to investigate the influence of ridge spacing and height on infection-structure induction by P. graminis tritici and P. hordei. It was found that artificial topographical signals alone can induce a reproducibly high percentage (83–86%) of germ tubes to differentiate infection structures. Multiple, closely spaced (1.5 μm) ridges which were 2.0 μm high provided the most inductive topography. Differentiation on flat surfaces and over single ridges was < 4%. Appressorium induction commonly initiated a cascade of differentiation events involving the formation of infection pegs, vesicles, infection hyphae, and occasionally haustorial mother cells. It is suggested that the close spacing of cell junctions associated with the dumbbell-shaped guard cells of cereal stomatal complexes provide inductive signals for infection-structure formation by cereal rusts in vivo. Received: 17 October 1996 / Accepted: 5 December 1996     

Prevalence of airborne basidiospores in three coastal cities of Saudi Arabia

Seasonal and diurnal variations of airborne basidiomycetous spores concentrations (basidiospores, smuts and rust spores) were studied using Burkard Volumetric Spore Traps in three major coastal cities viz., Dammam, Jeddah and Jizan in Saudi Arabia. The distance between the sites was approximately 1600 km from East to West. In addition to numerous airborne deuteromycetous spores identified at all sites, a considerable concentration of basidiomycetous spores were also recorded. The data revealed that basidiospores constituted a maximum of 17% of the total air spora in Jizan, while the maximum for Dammam and Jeddah was 11% each. Spores from smuts constituted the highest percentages of all basidiosmycetous spores ranging between 9–33% and 12–33% respectively in Dammam and Jizan. In Jeddah, it constituted between 14–26%. In contrast, rusts were less frequent at all sites. Maximum concentration of basidiospores showed that at certain months the level reached between 1000–6000 m⁻³. The data did not exhibit any seasonal pattern in their maximum appearance. Maximum concentration of smuts were much higher compared to basidiospores and the level fluctuated between 500–4000 m⁻³. Rusts were low in concentration (<150 m⁻³). The diurnal pattern of basidiospores concentration for at least one site (Jizan) averaged over the year showed a nocturnal trend consistent with basidiospores active discharge. The other two sites had no such trend. Diel periodicities of smuts and rusts spores did not exhibit any clear pattern. The study suggests that even in coastal regions having the same climatic conditions with a slightly different geography, show variation in basidiospores concentrations.     

Taxonomy ofPuccinia species causing rust diseases on sugarcane

A taxonomic revision ofPuccinia species causing rust diseases on sugarcane was conducted to clarify their morphological characteristics. Specimens including previously reported species,Puccinia melanocephala, P. kuehnii andPuccinia sp.sensu Muta, 1987, were collected in Japan and the Philippines and borrowed from various herbaria worldwide. Morphological characteristics of these specimens were examined under light and scanning electron microscopes. Comparative morphological studies of the specimens showed that rust fungi infecting sugarcane could be classified into two species,Puccinia melanocephala andP. kuehnii. Puccinia sp.sensu Muta was morphologically identical withP. kuehnii. Results of this study corroborate previous phylogenetic analysis results of D1/D2 regions of LSU rDNA gene. Contribution No. 157, Laboratory of Plant Parasitic Mycology, Institute of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Tsukuba     

新疆的已知锈菌

新疆地处亚洲中部,地域广大,是我国主要的荒漠植被区,植物区系以中亚成分为最重要的组成者.新疆锈菌区系具明显的中亚特色,特有的中亚种很多,为我国其他地区所无,区系组成有别于我国其他地区,因此新疆锈菌区系研究对了解中国锈菌区系全貌至关重要.报告的16属(含3个无性型式样属)181种(不含变种)系作者多年来在新疆进行区系调查和分类的初步成果.所依据的标本多数为作者所采,一些为其他采集者提供,保藏于中国科学院菌物标本馆(HMAS)、新疆农业大学菌物标本馆(HMAAC)和塔里木大学菌物标本馆(HMUT).名录部分包括锈菌名称、寄主植物及采集地.这是迄今为止最全面记载新疆锈菌物种多样性的本底资料,是今后编写新疆锈菌志的基础.必须指出,作者的调查尚不充分,许多地区尤其是昆仑山、喀喇昆仑山、阿尔金山、天山南脉及帕米尔地区涉足甚少,本名录尚需进一步完善.     

中国禾本科植物锈菌补遗

本文对中国禾本科植物锈菌增补了五种,其中两个新种:1、单穗拂子茅夏孢锈Uredo calamagrostidis-emodensis 2、多花剪股颖夏孢锈U. agrostidis-myrianthae;三个中国新记录:3、青篱竹柄锈Puccinia arundinariae 4、阿切尔单胞锈Uromyces archerianus 5、龙爪茅单胞锈U. dactyloctenii。每个种都有描述及附图。标本保藏在中国科学院微生物研究所真菌标本室。     

偏凸-柱穗山羊草双二倍体SDAU18的细胞分子遗传学鉴定

综合利用细胞学、种子贮藏蛋白电泳、基因组原位杂交（GISH）和抗性接种鉴定相结合的方法．对偏凸-柱穗山羊草双二倍体SDAU18进行了鉴定。结果表明,SDAU18的根尖细胞染色体数目变异范围为52—56．在绝大多数根尖细胞染色体数目为56的SDAU18减数分裂中期I花粉母细胞fPMCMI）内可观察到28个二价体,在部分细胞中可观察到一定频率的单价体、三价体和四价体,平均染色体构型为2n=56=3．21I＋19．78IIRing＋6．50IIRod＋0．01III＋0．04IVRing＋0．01IVRod;在SDAU18种子贮藏蛋白电泳图谱中,亲本偏凸山羊草和柱穗山羊草的多数特异带能够出现,SDAU18高分子量麦谷蛋白亚基图谱中既出现双亲的亚基谱带．也观察到新型亚基谱带：分别利用偏凸山羊草和柱穗山羊草基因组总DNA作探针．另一个亲本基因组总DNA作封阻。对SDAU18根尖细胞制片进行染色体原位杂交．在SDAU18的56条染色体中分别有14条出现绿色杂交信号：SDAU18是偏凸山羊草和柱穗山羊草的双二倍体,对小麦白粉病和条锈病均表现免疫,是一个在小麦品种遗传改良中具有重要利用价值的新型种质材料。