Inoculation studies of Juncus articulatus with Entorrhiza casparyana (Ustilaginales)

Abstract

Teliospores of Entorrhiza casparyana from soil infected Juncus articulatus L. in well-drained and waterlogged soils under glasshouse conditions. After 3.5 months the maximum infection perplant was 2546 galls which weighed 1.2 g (or 18.5% of the root dry weight and 9.6% of the total dry weight of the plant). After 8.5 months the maximum infection per plant was 4267 galls which weighed 14.3 g (or 54.9% of the root dry weight and 29.7% of the total dry weight of the plant). Galls were relatively evenly distributed on the roots in well-drained soils but not in waterlogged soils. The effect on plant appearance and growth (measured on a dry weight basis after 3.5 months) was insignificant, explaining why infected plants are difficult to detect in the field.

The origin and diversification of the Entorrhizales: deep evolutionary roots but recent speciation with a phylogenetic and phenotypic split between associates of the Cyperaceae and Juncaceae

“…1); the spores are released from dead and decaying host tissues (Vánky 2012;Bauer et al 2015). The only visible symptoms of host plant infection are swellings (galls) of the roots, occurring usually in late summer and autumn, whereas the aboveground parts of infected plants are indistinguishable from those of healthy plants (Fineran 1983;Fineran and Fineran 1992).…”

“…Plants infected with Entorrhiza species show no symptoms of infection on aboveground organs, and the collection of specimens requires excavation of whole plants. Furthermore, soil moisture seems to play a crucial role in the degree and distribution of the infection (Fineran 1983). Despite these difficulties, Entorrhiza species were found on all continents except Antarctica (Vánky 2012).…”

Teliospore wall structure in Entorrhiza (Tilletiaceae) and its relationship to taxonomy of the genus

“…Lagerh.) on Juncus articulatus L. TEM-Groynes Recreational Reserve, south branch of Waimakariri River, Christchurch, New Zealand: (i) 1971, J. M. Fineran, galls stored dry for 20 years, this material having originated from inoculation experiments (J. M. Fineran, 1983). (ii) 1971, J. M. Fineran, galls stored in standard glutaraldehyde fixative for 20 years.…”

“…Entorrhiza has attracted little attention among mycologists and plant pathologists, probably because its hosts are of little economic importance and the only signs of infection lie hidden belowground. The inoculation studies of Fineran (1983) demonstrated that infection of the host root system can be heavy, yet the plant as a whole usually shows little alteration in its growth.…”

“…Studies in our laboratory over the past two decades have been aimed at increasing fundamental knowledge o n the biology of the genus (Fineran 1971(Fineran , 19786, 1982(Fineran , 1983, including the structure and development of the spore. The surface ornamentation of spores in the five species has been investigated using techniques of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) (Fineran 1 9 7 8~) .…”