Mikronegeria fuchsiaesp. nov., a rust fungus onFuchsiaandPhyllocladusin New Zealand

Abstract

inoculations showed that two previously described rust fungi (Basidiomycota: Pucciniales), Caeoma peltatum on Phyllocladus spp. and Uredo fuchsiae on Fuchsia spp., both endemic to New Zealand, are different stages of a single species. Uredinial and telial states formed on Fuchsia excorticata after inoculation with aeciospores from Phyllocladus trichomanoides. The oblong teliospores form directly from subepidermal hyphae, then divide to become metabasidia, each cell of which germinates to form a long suprastomatal sterigma andbasidiospore. The rust closely resembles species in the family Mikronegeriaceae, and is named Mikronegeria fuchsiae sp. nov. This is the first record of a member of the Mikronegeriaceae in New Zealand.

Host jumps shaped the diversity of extant rust fungi (Pucciniales)

“…An evolutionary origin of rust fungi on angiosperms was supported by Aime (), who showed that some extant species, including H. vastatrix (on Rubiaceae), Blastospora smilacis (on Smilacaceae) and Maravalia cryptostegiae (on Apocynaceae), belonged to an ancestral family, Mikronegeriaceae (Pucciniales). This family is typified by Mikronegeria , which is heteroecious on gymnosperms and Nothofagus (Nothofagaceae, Fagales), or, in the case of M. fuchsiae , on a gymnosperm and Fuchsia (Onagraceae) (Crane & Peterson, ).…”

Occurrence of a rust disease of Fuchsia caused by Pucciniastrum epilobii in Indonesia

“…Its spermogonial and aecial stages are produced on Phyllocladus spp. (Crane and Peterson 2007). However, M. fuchsiae is quite different from P. epilobii in uredinial and telial morphology.…”

“…Crane et R. S. Peterson (0Uredo fuchsiae (Cooke) Henn, non Arthur et Holway) was reported to produce uredinial and telial stages on Fuchsia excorticata (J.R. Forst et G.) L.f. and F. perscandens Cockayne et Allan from New Zealand (Crane and Peterson 2007). Its spermogonial and aecial stages are produced on Phyllocladus spp.…”