Microscopic observations of a compatible host/pathogen interaction between a potential biocontrol agent (Uromyces pencanus) and its target weed (Nassella neesiana)

Abstract

Uromyces pencanus is a prospective biocontrol agent for Nassella neesiana in Australia and New Zealand. The infection process of U. pencanus urediniospores in leaves of its susceptible host N. neesiana was found to be similar to that of most other rust species. A pattern against which to compare nonhost reactions in host range experiments was achieved using a modification of Bruzzese and Hasan's whole leaf clearing and staining technique. The staining of microtome leaf sections provided supplemental information about this pathosystem.

The invasive grass genus Nassella in South Africa: A synthesis

“…Fungus N. trichotoma Potential (Briese and Evans, 1998;Anderson et al, 2002;McLaren and Cowan, 2012 (Anderson et al, 2011(Anderson et al, , 2006) Puccinia nassellae (Pucciniaceae) Fungus N. neesiana, N. trichotoma Not host specific and not sufficiently pathogenic (Anderson et al, 2002;Anderson et al, 2011Anderson et al, , 2006McLaren and Cowan, 2012 (Briese and Evans, 1998;Anderson et al, 2006Anderson et al, , 2010Anderson et al, , 2011Anderson et al, , 2017Flemmer et al, 2010 (Briese and Evans, 1998;Anderson et al, 2002) ecological, economic, social and legal issues will probably be the most effective (Anderson et al, 2003;Early et al, 2016).…”

New staining method for fungal-infected plant tissues

“…However, the use of an infiltration method such as paraffin or plastic resins is very important for the study of the penetration and/or colonisation of tissues, because it ensures the integrity of the plant tissue, which is generally necrotic (Feder & O'Brien, 1968;Nair & Corbin, 1981;Flemmer et al, 2010).…”

“…These techniques are used in conjunction with a wide variety of dyes such as toluidine blue O (Ghemawat, 1977), lactophenol cotton blue (Heath, 1974), lactophenol cotton blue and aniline blue (Shipton & Brown, 1962), trypan blue and rose Bengal (Saha et al, 1988), acid fuchsin (McBride, 1936), safranin (Bandoni, 1979), and calcofluor (Trese & Loschke, 1990). Dualstaining techniques currently in use include safranin and fast green staining (Flemmer et al, 2010) and safranin staining with Astra blue (Srebotnik & Messner, 1994). However, the use of these dyes by themselves only stains fungal structures and/or plant cell walls and provides no clear distinction between the fungal and plant cell walls.…”

“…Many studies have sought to elucidate fungal development on plant surfaces, and the samples in such studies are clarified and then stained (Bruzzese & Hassan, 1983;Koske & Gemma, 1989;Liberato et al, 2005). However, the use of an infiltration method such as paraffin or plastic resins is very important for the study of the penetration and/or colonisation of tissues, because it ensures the integrity of the plant tissue, which is generally necrotic (Feder & O'Brien, 1968;Nair & Corbin, 1981;Flemmer et al, 2010).…”