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Puccinia tanaceti: specialist or generalist?
1Department of Forest Resources, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844-1133, USA. georgen@uidaho.edu
Mycological Research
|September 12, 2003
Summary
A new rust fungus, Puccinia tanaceti, has been identified on tansy in North America for the first time. This specialized rust fungus infects only tansy, confirming its narrow host range.
Area of Science:
- Plant pathology
- Mycology
- Invasive species research
Background:
- Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare), an invasive Eurasian plant, was introduced to North America in the 17th century.
- Rust fungi can significantly impact plant health and ecosystem dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report the first occurrence of rust on North American tansy.
- To identify the rust fungus and determine its host specialization.
Main Methods:
- Morphological comparison of the North American rust fungus with European specimens and Gäumann's description of Puccinia tanaceti.
- Inoculation studies using tansy and other related Asteraceae species.
Main Results:
- The rust fungus found on North American tansy morphologically matches Puccinia tanaceti.
- Inoculation studies confirmed that Puccinia tanaceti is narrowly specialized, successfully infecting only Tanacetum vulgare.
- Four other species in the Anthemidae tribe of Asteraceae were resistant to inoculation.
Conclusions:
- The first North American report of Puccinia tanaceti on tansy is confirmed.
- The narrow host specialization of this rust fungus is validated, invalidating the broad classification of Puccinia tanaceti sensu lato.