Puccinia mccleanii on Gladiolus

Puccinia mccleanii is a microcyclic rust fungus considered of quarantine significance for the U.S. It is known only from southern Africa on Gladiolus ludwigii (Iridaceae).

Puccinia mccleanii Doidge, Bothalia 4: 231. 1941.

Spermogonia, aecia and uredinia unknown.

Telia amphigenous, scattered or grouped, rounded to oblong, subepidermal, erumpent, pulverulent, surrounded by ruptured epidermis, between veins, sometimes transverse to veins, up to 0.5 mm long, when grouped covering up to 1 cm of leaf surface, chestnut brown, without paraphyses; teliospores oblong-clavate to oblong, sometimes constricted at septum, rounded, truncate, attenuated or oblique- attenuated at apex, lower probasidial cell frequently narrower, cinnamon brown, lighter cinnamon brown at the base of the spore, (35-) 50-60 (-70) × (12.5-) 14-17 (-20) µm, cell wall 1-2 µm thick, apex sometimes thicker 4 (-7) µm; pedicel up to 45 µm long, easily broken, light cinnamon

Host and Distribution: Gladiolus ludwigii from South Africa.

Specimen examined: on Gladiolus ludwigii Hook f., from South Africa, Natal, Nottingham Road, 20 March 1939, leg. A.P.D. McClean (PREM 30996) III, Holotype.

Puccinia mccleanii is only known from the type specimen and only telia have been described. The only other species of Puccinia reported on Gladiolus is P. gladioli Henn. from Europe and Asia, which is heteroecious (spermogonia and aecia reported on Valerianella). Telia of P. gladioli are paraphysate, form crusts, and teliospores are shorter and thicker (36-60 × 16-27 µm) than those of P. mccleanii. Telia of P. mccleanii are aparaphysate and pulverulent, and teliospores are longer and narrower. Three species of Uromyces (U. gladioli, U. transversalis and U. nyikensis) are reported on Gladiolus; teliospores of these species are not septate. An additional rust on Gladiolus is Uredo gladioli-büttneri, which lacks of telia.

References:

Doidge, E.M. 1941. South African rust fungi IV. Bothalia 4: 229-236.

Nomenclature

Specimens in BPI

Additional distribution data

Suggested citation: Hernández, J.R. Systematic Mycology and Microbiology Laboratory, ARS, USDA. 12 May 2005. Invasive Fungi. Puccinia mccleanii on Gladiolus. Retrieved November 21, 2009, from http://nt.ars-grin.gov/sbmlweb/fungi/index.cfm .