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Updated: Feb 7, 2026
11:42
Genetic Manipulation of the Plant Pathogen Ustilago maydis to Study Fungal Biology and Plant Microbe Interactions
Published on: September 30, 2016
15.1K
Ustilago species causing leaf-stripe smut revisited
Julia Kruse1,2, Wolfgang Dietrich3, Horst Zimmermann4
1Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Faculty of Biosciences, Institute of Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, D-60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
IMA Fungus
|July 19, 2018
Summary
Leaf-stripe smuts, often within the Ustilago genus, show distinct host-associated lineages. This study identified three new Ustilago species, Ustilago jagei, U. kummeri, and U. neocopinata, based on molecular data and host specificity.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Plant Pathology
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Leaf-stripe smuts are a diverse fungal group within Ustilaginomycotina, affecting grasses across three genera: Tilletia, Urocystis, and Ustilago.
- Over 12 Ustilago species cause stripe smuts, with most belonging to the Ustilago striiformis-complex, encompassing approximately 30 taxa and infecting 165 plant species.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate host-specific lineages within Ustilago leaf-stripe smuts.
- To clarify the phylogenetic relationships of Ustilago species causing stripe smuts in grasses.
Main Methods:
- Phylogenetic analysis using nine genetic loci on a representative sample of Ustilago leaf-stripe smuts.
- Molecular data and host specificity were used to differentiate species.
Main Results:
- Phylogenetic reconstructions confirmed the monophyly of the Ustilago striiformis-complex.
- Smut specimens from the same host genus generally formed distinct, well-supported clades.
- Three new Ustilago species were identified and described: Ustilago jagei (on Agrostis stolonifera), U. kummeri (on Bromus inermis), and U. neocopinata (on Dactylis glomerata).
Conclusions:
- Host specificity plays a significant role in the evolution of Ustilago leaf-stripe smuts.
- The study expands the known diversity of Ustilago, with new species identified based on molecular and host data.
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