White rust of chrysanthemums

Teleutospores of Puccinia horiana Henn. germinate and discharge sporidia between 4 and 23 °C. At the optimum temperature of 17 °C sporidia discharge starts within 3 h. Maximum germination of the sporidia takes place within 2·5 h between o and 30 °C, there being no clear optimum. High humidity and a film of moisture appear to be necessary for germination of both teleutospores and sporidia. Sporidia can penetrate either leaf surface of chrysanthemum to cause infection between 4 and 24 1°C and within the optimum temperature range, 17–24 °C, effectively penetrate within 2 h. The sporidia are very sensitive to desiccation at below 90 % relative humidity. Methods are described, using leaf discs and whole plants, for screening chrysanthemum cultivars for susceptibility to white rust. Cultivars were placed in five classes ranging from susceptible to immune. Leaf discs of immune cultivars can be distinguished within 30 h by a brown discolouration at the point of inoculation. The early stages of development of the fungus in susceptible, resistant and immune hosts are described. The incubation period in susceptible plants is normally 7–10 days, teleutospores being formed a few days later. Leaves become less susceptible with age but the oldest leaves on 5-month-old plants could still be infected. The maximum survival time of teleutospores in the sori on detached leaves was 8 weeks but was considerably less under moist conditions or buried in soil. Low doses of a mancozeb with zineb fungicide controlled infection by preventing penetration rather than by inhibiting sporidial germination.