Occurrence of Puccinia xanthii on Sunflower in South Africa

A severe outbreak of a foliar disease occurred on ornamental sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. cv. Tyao) cultivated under plastic protection near Potchefstroom in the North West Province during February 2000. According to previous descriptions of host range, symptoms, and spore morphology, the pathogen was identified as the microcyclic rust fungus, Puccinia xanthii Schwein. (2-4). Telia, reaching 9 mm in diameter and often coalescing to form larger lesions associated with chlorosis, occurred on the lower surface of leaves. Symptoms were first observed at the V-12 growth stage when approximately 40% of leaves displayed lesions. The disease subsequently spread to younger plants (V-2 stage) where an incidence of 100% was recorded. Severity estimates regularly reached 50% leaf area affected. The primary source of inoculum was thought to be nearby rust-infected Xanthium strumarium sensu lato (burweed or cocklebur) plants, a known host for P. xanthii (2,4). Infection studies were carried out on 3-week-old sunflower plants using a mini settling tower supporting an inverted water agar plate containing leaf disks with P. xanthii telia (2) obtained from either sunflower or burweed. Plants covered with a settling tower were kept in the dark in a dew chamber for 48 h. Microscopic examination of inoculum from both sources confirmed germination of teliospores and formation of basidiospores. Test entries had similar disease reactions regardless of whether inocula were collected from H. annuus or X. strumarium. Fleck symptoms were visible on the hybrids SNK 77 and Orit 5 days after placing plants in the dew chamber. On these entries, telia gradually increased in size, indicating susceptibility to P. xanthii. Furthermore, those leaves receiving high inoculum dosages were desiccated 11 days after inoculation. Hybrids Hysun 333 and CRN 1470 and the male sterility maintainer lines DC 4 and RK 74 produced resistant reactions. Hyperplasia of stem and petiole tissue was observed on certain Orit, DC 4, and CRN 1470 plants. Susceptibility of burweed, a common and widespread annual weed in southern Africa (1), to a sunflower isolate of P. xanthii, was also confirmed. Depending on the formation of teliospores, the identity of the causal organism was verified in all inoculation studies. P. xanthii damage on sunflower has not been reported from South Africa. However, the disease has now become economically important as severe foliar lesions rendered plants unacceptable for the ornamental sunflower market. References: (1) C. Bromilow. 1995. Problem Plants of South Africa. Briza Publications, Pretoria, South Africa. (2) L. Morin et al. Can. J. Bot. 71:959, 1993. (3) L. Morin et al. Mycol. Res. 96:661, 1992. (4) J. Parmelee. Can. J. Bot. 47:1391, 1969.