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    First report of smut on Imperata cylindrica caused by Sporisorium schweinfurthianum in South Africa

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    U09AbstWoodFirstInthomDev.pdf (48.78Kb)
    Date
    2009
    Author
    Wood, A.R.
    Den Breeyen, A.
    Beed, Fen D.
    Type
    Journal Article
    Metadata
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    Abstract/Description
    Imperata cylindrica (L.) Raeusch. (Poaceae) is indigenous to the old world but is a problem weed in tropical areas throughout the world (1). A smut fungus was observed frequently on this grass at a single site near Pretoria (25°44′19′′S, 28°15′39′′E), South Africa during April of 2006. On the basis of the following characteristics, it was identified as Sporisorium schweinfurthianum (Thüm.) K. Vánky (2). Panicles were systemically infected and all ovaries in infected inflorescences were replaced by spores. Spores were globose or subglobose, brown, 10 to 14 × 9 to 12 μm (average 11.2 × 9.8 μm; n = 25), wall 1 μm thick, and finely verruculose. Hyaline, thin-walled sterile cells were present. This identification was confirmed by K. Vánky (personal communication to A. R. Wood). To our knowledge, this is the first report of this smut species from southern Africa. A voucher specimen has been deposited in the South African National Collection of Fungi, ARC-Plant Protection Research Institute (PREM 59895). To test pathogenicity, soil in 15 pots with individual 1-month-old seedlings was drenched with an aqueous suspension of 1 × 108spores ml–1 amended with 0.1% Tween 80. Before treatment, the pots were placed on pot trays and remained immersed in the spore suspension in the trays at 28°C (relative humidity <80%) for 24 h. To maintain the spore concentration in the soil, the pots were not watered until 7 days after inoculation. Distilled water amended with 0.1% Tween 80 was applied as control treatments to a further 15 pots with plants. Five of the treated plants produced panicles within 4 months of inoculation. Of these, all the ovaries of four emerging inflorescences were completely replaced with a brown, powdery mass of teliospores. No smutted panicles developed on the control plants. This smut fungus may have potential as a classical biological control agent for use against I. cylindrica by reducing dispersal by seed.
    Permanent link to this item
    https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12478/2508
    IITA Subjects
    Weeds; Plant Production; Plant Health; Disease Control; Plant Diseases; Pests Of Plants
    Agrovoc Terms
    Spore; Inoculation; Fungus; Cylindrical; Smut; Inflorescences
    Regions
    Africa; Southern Africa; East Africa
    Countries
    South Africa; Uganda
    Collections
    • Journal and Journal Articles5283
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