Life Cycle
P. spegazzinii is a microcyclic,
autoecious rust fungus. The
yellowish to dark brown teliospores are
embedded in the host tissue in distinct
raised sori, 2-6cm in diameter.
These occur on the under surface of
leaves and over the entire circumference
of petioles and stems, where they often
merge to form elongated pustules.
Under high humidity basidiospores are
produced and liberated from teliospores.
These basidiospores are able to infect
young meristematic tissue of the same
host, giving rise to telia and young
teliospores. Older plant tissue is
less susceptible.
Distribution
P. spegazzinii has only been
recorded from the Neotropics. From
the literature, there are records of the
rust on various mikania species from the
extremes of the range of the genus; from
the southern USA, through Mexico, to
northern Argentina. From the
surveys undertaken by CABI Bioscience,
it was not found in Mexico, but was
collected in Costa Rica, Brazil,
Ecuador, Trinidad and Tobago, and as far
south as southern Peru.
References
Ellison C and Murphy S. 2001.
A dossier on Puccinia spegazzinii de
Toni (Basidiomycetes: Uredinales) a
Potential Biological Control Agent for
Mikania micrantha Kunth ex H.B.K.
(Asteraceae) in India. CABI
Bioscience UK Centre, Silwood Park,
Berkshire, UK. |
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