The molecular phylogeny of the white blister rust genus Pustula reveals a case of underestimated biodiversity with several undescribed species on ornamentals and crop plants

Sebastian Ploch, Sabine Telle, Young Joon Choi, James H. Cunnington, Michael Priest, Christoph Rost, Hyeon Dong Shin, Marco Thines

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    24 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Despite their economic importance, the knowledge of the biodiversity of many plant pathogens is still fragmentary. In this study we show that this is true also for the white blister rust genus Pustula that is parasitic on several genera in the asterids, including sunflower and the gentian, Eustoma. It is revealed that several distinct species exist in Pustula, suggesting that species are mostly host genus specific. No geographic patterns were observed in the occurrence of Pustula, the host range of which includes the Araliaceae, Asteraceae, Gentianaceae, and Goodeniaceae. Evidence points to these becoming hosts as a result of jumps from the Asteraceae, with subsequent host-specific adaptation and speciation. Among the undescribed species are pathogens of economic importance, e.g. the white blister rusts of sunflower, or with still restricted geographical ranges, e.g. Pustula centaurii, which could potentially spread with international seed trade, if no quarantine restrictions are implemented.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)214-219
    Number of pages6
    JournalFungal Biology
    Volume115
    Issue number3
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2011 Mar

    Bibliographical note

    Funding Information:
    The present study was financially supported by the research funding programme “LOEWE – Landes-Offensive zur Entwicklung Wissenschaftlich-ökonomischer Exzellenz” of Hesse’s Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and the Arts . Parts of this study have been supported by grants and fellowships of the German Science Foundation (DFG), the Elite Program for Postdocs of the Landesstiftung Baden-Württemberg , and the Max Planck Society (MPG) awarded to MT. We are indebted to the curators of BP, BRIP, CUP, GZU and H for loan of Pustula specimens in their keeping.

    Copyright:
    Copyright 2011 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

    Keywords

    • Albuginales
    • Cox2
    • Herbarium specimens
    • Oomycetes
    • Pathogen biodiversity
    • Quarantine

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
    • Genetics
    • Infectious Diseases

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