New localities of rare species of the genus Microbotryum

Abstract

Microbotryum bistortum, M. dianthorum, M. superbum and M. langerheimii, rare species of smut fungi are reported from new localities in Poland, mostly in protected areas. Dianthus superbus subsp. superbus is a new host for M. superbum observed. Taxonomical status of M. carthusianorum and M. superbum is discussed in the paper.

Full text

New localities of rare species of the genus Microbotryum
ANDRZEJ CHLEBICKI
Department of Mycology, W. Szafer Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Sciences
Lubicz 46, PL-31-512 Kraków, a.chlebicki@botany.pl
Chlebicki A.: New localities of rare species of the genus Microbotryum. Acta Mycol. 45 (2):
169–173, 2010.
Microbotryum bistortum, M. dianthorum, M. superbum and M. langerheimii, rare species
of smut fungi are reported from new localities in Poland, mostly in protected areas. Dianthus
superbus subsp. superbus is a new host for M. superbum observed. Taxonomical status of
M. carthusianorum and M. superbum is discussed in the paper.
Key words: Pucciniomycotina, occurrence, ecology, protected areas
INTRODUCTION
Twenty eight species of the genus Microbotryum Lév. belonging to Microbotryales
(Pucciniomycotina) have been recorded in Poland so far (Piątek et al. 2005; Ma-
jewski et al. 2008; Lutz et al. 2008). These fungi are specialized plant pathogens
attacking anthers, rarely ovaries, semens and leaves. Recent changes in the fungal
systematics concern also the genus Microbotryum. Last investigations show that the
species of the genus Microbotryum invading plant anthers of Caryophyllaceae form
a monophyletic group (Almaraz et al. 2002, Begerow et al. 2004; Lutz et al. 2005).
In spite of this statement some authors include species invading plants from other
families in the genus Microbotryum (Vánky 1998, 2004; Lutz et al 2005). Fungi from
the genus Microbotryum which infect plants from the family Caryophyllaceae form
sori, mostly in plant anthers, whereas M. major (J. Schröt.) G. Deml & Oberw. form
sori also in plant ovaries, anthers and basal part of petals. These fungi are not always
host specialized, some of them are restricted to single plant genus, others can infect
different plant genera. Moreover, the same host plant can be invaded by various
anther smuts (see Dianthus carthusianorum in this article). Revisions of material
collected in Poland as well as corrections of nomenclature are necessary to keep up
with changes in the fungal taxonomy.
ACTA MYCOLOGICA
Vol. 45 (2): 169–173
2010
Dedicated to Professor Barbara Gumińska
on the occasion of her eighty-fth birthday
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170 A. Chlebicki
Distribution of these fungi in Poland as well as their host range are poorly known.
Few localities of the species were reported from some national parks and reserves.
New information on four rare species is presented in the paper.
METHODS
Collected material was examined under light microscope Nikon Eclipse 91. The
spores were mounted in lactophenol and gently heated to boiling point (Vánky
1994). For each specimen at least 30 spores were measured.
RESULTS
Microbotryum bistortarum (DC.) Vánky Fig. 1A
Mycotaxon 67: 40, 1998. Basionym: Uredo bistortarum DC., in de Candolle &
Lamarck, Fl. franç., Edn 3 (Paris) 5/6: 76, 1815. Caeoma bistortarum (DC.) Link,
Willd. Sp. Plant. 6(2): 10, 1825. Ustilago bistortarum (DC.) Körn., Hedwigia 16: 38,
1877. Bauhinus bistortarum (DC.) Denchev, Mycotaxon 65: 421, 1997.
Lo c a L i t y . Kraków, Nowa Huta, protected ecological area „Łąki Nowohuckie”, in
owers of Polygonum bistorta L., 21 May 2009, coll. A. Chlebicki, KRAM F-47391
(Fig. 1A). co m m e n t s . So far the fungus has been reported only from areas of Karkon-
osze Mts near Karpacz (Schroeter 1887), Mt. Śnieżnik, Babia Góra Massif and Tatra
Mts (Kochman, Majewski 1973). The fungus was noted mainly in owers of Polygonum
bistorta, but in the Tatra Mts it was also observed in bulbils of P. viviparum L. (Koch-
man, Majewski 1973). Only four attacked plants were noted in the new locality „Łąki
Nowohuckie” in spite of the fact that the host plant occurs very commonly here.
Microbotryum dianthorum (Liro) H. Scholz et I. Scholz
Englera 8: 206, 1988. s. lato. Basionym: Ustilago dianthorum Liro, Ann. Acad. Sci.
Fenn., Ser. A 17(1): 35, 1924.
Lo c a L i t y . Warmia Region, „Rzeka Drwęca” Reserve, Pusta Dąbrówka, in the
meadow near Drwęca River, in anthers of Dianthus carthusianorum L., 19 July
2008, coll. A. Chlebicki, KRAM F-46785. Sudetes, Góry Złote Mts, meadow near
Mąkolno and Laski, in anthers of Dianthus carthusianorum, 12 October 2007, coll.
A. Chlebicki, KRAM F-56614.
co m m e n t s . Only few specimens of the host plant were noted in the meadows, all
of them were invaded by the fungus. According to Gac et al. (2007) and Refrégier
et al. (2008) Microbotryum dianthorum is probably a collective species, which occurs
on various species of the genus Dianthus. Recently, Denchev et al. (2009) separated
a new species from M. dianthorum – M. carthusianorum Denchev, Giraud & M. E.
Hood, which occurs on D. carthusianorum. However, on the same host plant an-
other fungus species – Microbotryum shykofanum Giraud, Denchev & de Hood

Fig. 1. A – Microbotryum bistortarum in owers of Polygonum bistorta; B – M. superbum in anthers
of Dianthus superbus subsp. superbus; C – Microbotryum lagerheimii in anthers of Lychnis viscaria.

New localities of the genus Microbotryum 171
can occur. Separation of this new species is controversial and not accepted by some
mycologists. At this moment the author temporarily included specimens collected
on Dianthus carthusianorum in Microbotryum dianthorum s. lato. An acceptance of
the new taxonomical decision will be possible after obtaining of precise descriptions
of these two Microbotryum species inhabiting Dianthus carthusianorum (M. carthu-
sianorum and M. shykofanum). These species do not differ morphologically, and
their identication is possible only on the basis of molecular examination of DNA
sequences of β-tub, γ-tub and EF1 α.
Microbotryum superbum (Liro) Denchev, T. Giraud & M. E. Hood Fig. 1B
Mycol. Balcanica 6: 83, 2009. Basionym: Ustilago superba Liro, Ann. Acad. Sci.
Fenn., Ser. A, 17(1): 37, 1924.
Lo c a L i t y . Podlasie Region, pine forest near Mikaszewo Lake, the area protected
in the frame of NATURA 2000 programme „Puszcza Augustowska”, in anthers
of Dianthus superbus L. subsp. superbus, 11 June 2008, coll. A. Chlebicki, KRAM
F-46708 (Fig. 1B).
co m m e n t s . Nearly half of an abundant population of Dianthus superbus subsp.
superbus was invaded by fungus. Specimens inhabiting Dianthus superbus were in
the past placed in Microbotryum violaceum (Pers.) G. Deml & Oberw. (Denchev,
Sharkova 1997). Earlier Liro (1924) described a new species of fungus on the same
host and named it Ustilago superba Liro. Denchev et al. (2009) followed his decision
and proposed a new combination – Microbotryum superbum (Liro) Denchev Giraud
& M. E. Hood. Refrégier et al. (2008) reported this species as MVDsp.2 in the ow-
ers of D. superbus, D. monspessulanus L. and D. gratianopolitanus Vill.
Microbotryum superbum differs from the M. dianthorum in physiological and ge-
netic characters, but morphology is of their spores identical (Le Gac et al. 2007;
Denchev et al. 2009). My observations partially conrm the opinion of these authors
(Denchev et al. 2009). The host populations of Dianthus superbus subps. superbus
and D. carthusianorum examined were growing separately and occupied different
niches. Microbotryum dianthorum s. lato was noted in Poland on six species of Dian-
thus (Kochman, Majewski 1973), among them also on D. superbus subsp. speciosus
(Rchb.) Hayek from the Babia Góra Massif. Majewski et al. (2008) listed all known
localities of M. dianthorum from Poland. D. superbus subsp. superbus is a new host
plant for M. superbum in this country.
Microbotryum lagerheimii Denchev Fig. 1C
Mycol. Balcanica 4: 64, 2007.
Lo c a L i t y : Western Carpathians, Beskid Sądecki Mts, Poprad Landscape Park,
meadow on Mt. Okrąglica Południowa, in the anthers of Lychnis viscaria L., 1 June
2008, coll. A. Chlebicki, KRAM F-46668 (Fig. 1C).
co m m e n t s : Host plants were growing abundantly along roads and in meadows
(ca some hundred specimens). Almost all of them were parasitized by the fungus.
Previously the fungus was noted on Lychnis viscaria (=Viscaria vulgaris) in some
localities in Lower Silesia: Jarnołtów near Wrocław, Pątnów Legnicki, Ratyń near
Środa Śląska, Kłodzko, Dzierżoniów, Bystrzyca Górna near Świdnica, Łęknice near
Żarów as Ustilago antherarum (DC) Fr. and U. violacea (Pers.) Roussel (Schroeter
1887; Denchev 2007), also in Mazowsze Region and Puszcza Kozienicka and Na-

172 A. Chlebicki
tolin near Warszawa, as Ustilago violacea and U. silenes-inatae Liro (Kochman,
Majewski 1973; Denchev 2007).
Denchev (2007) separated Microbotryum lagerheimii from M. silenes-inatae (Liro)
G. Deml & Oberw. on the basis of colour of ustilospore mass, characters of ustilospores
and range of the host plants. So far in Poland, specimens parazitizing Lychnis viscaria
have been included in the species M. silenes-inatae (Majewski et al. 2008). Denchev
(2007) examined anther smuts collected on this host in Poland and transferred them
to M. lagerheimii. Sori of the specimens collected by the author have pale vinaceous to
hazel coloured powdery mass of ustilospores (Fig. 1C), typical of M. lagerheimii.
Acknowledgements. The author thanks Dr. Marcin Piątek and anonymous reviewer for valuable com-
ments, as well as Dr. Cvetomir Denchev for sending his new articles and short discussion of taxonomy
of M. dianthorum. The study was supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, Poland
(Project No. N N304 328336).
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New localities of the genus Microbotryum 173
Nowe stanowiska rzadkich gatunków grzybów z rodzaju Microbotryum
Streszczenie
Grzyby z rodzaju Microbotryum Lév. są obecnie zaliczane do podgromady Pucciniomycoti-
na, gdzie wchodzą w skład rzędu Microbotryales R. Bauer & Oberw. W Polsce dotychczas
odnotowano 28 gatunków z tego rodzaju. Są to wyspecjalizowane patogeny roślin atakujące
głównie pylniki, rzadziej słupki, nasiona i liście. Zachodzące w ostatnich latach zmiany w tak-
sonomii wymagają dostosowania nazewnictwa i przejrzenia dotychczas zebranych materiałów.
Rozmieszczenie tych grzybów w Polsce jest słabo poznane. Nieliczne stanowiska wielu gatun-
ków tych grzybów były podawane z niektórych parków narodowych i rezerwatów przyrody.
Również zakres żywicieli jest w Polsce niedostatecznie poznany. W niniejszej notatce zosta-
ły przedstawione informacje o czterech gatunkach tych grzybów: Microbotryum bistortarum,
M. dianthorum, M. superbum i M. lagerheimii.