Eocronartium muscicola: a basidiomycetous moss parasite exploiting gametophytic transfer cells

Abstract

1988. Eocronarti~irn rnuscicola: a basidiomycetous moss parasite exploiting gametophytic transfer cells. Can. J. Bot. 66: 762-770. The host -parasite interface in Eocronartium muscicola, Auriculariales sensu lato, was examined histologically for 6 of the 21 reported moss hosts, using light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. A unique mode of fungal biotrophy was encountered in 5 of the 6 mosses analyzed, in which E. muscicola exploits gametophytic host transfer cells concomitant with varying degrees of supplantation of the moss sporophyte. Basidiocarps are restricted in these mosses to postfertilized archegonia, in which they are seen to associate with the sporophyte foot region, where they gain access to the host transfer cell nutritional interface. Basidiocarp ontogeny is presented as it relates to the development of the host-parasite interface. The relationship of E. rnuscicola to other simple-septate auricularioid taxa and the the Uredinales is discussed. BOEHM, E. W. A,, et MCLAUGHLIN, D. J. 1988. Eocronartium muscicola: a basidiomycetous moss parasite exploiting gametophytic transfer cells. Can. J. Bot. 66 : 762 -770.

An overview of the higher level classification of Pucciniomycotina based on combined analyses of nuclear large and small subunit rDNA sequences

“…1a, c). Fitzpatrick (1918) provides descriptions and illustrations of the life cycle, cytology, host-range and taxonomy of E. muscicola, and the host-parasite interaction is described in Boehm and McLaughlin (1988). The columnar type of fructification (FIG.…”

First records of Eocr Onartium muscicola (Basidiomycota, Eocronartiaceae) in Chile on two new hosts

“…1d), replacing the sporophyte. Boehm & McLaughlin (1988), reported a similar association on mosses from the Northern Hemisphere. The fungi of the genus Jola also exploit the transfer cells, but indirectly, being restricted to the capsule of the sporophyte of tropical mosses without replacing it (Boehm & McLaughlin 1988).…”

“…The similarity of the basidiomata to those of the genus Cronartium made Atkinson (1902) believe in a close relationship of Eocronartium with rust fungi, which has been recently supported by molecular studies, allowing the placement of Eocronartium in the Pucciniomycetes (Aime et al 2007). Boehm and McLaughlin (1988) point out that E. muscicola has a unique way of nutrition, as the fungus exploits the nutritive flow passing through the transfer cells of the moss. Also, they observed different levels of biotrophy that could be explained by the diversity of physiological races of the fungus or by genetic differences in the host.…”

“…TAXONOMY AND BIOLOGY OF EOCRONARTIUM MUSCICOLA E. muscicola is an obligate parasite of some 21 species of mosses from different genera and families (Boehm & McLaughlin 1988). It was originally described by Fitzpatrick (1918) growing on ramifications of Climacium americanum Brid.…”

The effects of high-tannin leaf litter from transgenic poplars on microbial communities in microcosm soils

“…Boehm and McLaughlin (1988) reported that Eocronartium muscicola can arrest or supplant sporophyte growth. We attribute the growth of moss in the microcosms to the likely presence of moss protonema cells in the soils, before litter addition.…”