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Submitted 5 April 2018, Accepted 24 May 2018, Published 4 June 2018
Corresponding Author: Fahad M. – e-mail – muhammadfahad044@gmail.com 63
First report of the rust fungus Phragmidium mexicanum from Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Fahad M*, Fiaz M, Ullah S, Rehman HU, Shariq M, Majid A and Alam J
Department of Botany, Hazara University Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan 21300.
Fahad M, Fiaz M, Ullah S, Rehman H, Shariq M, Majid A, Alam J 2018 – First report of the rust
fungus Phragmidium mexicanum from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Plant Pathology &
Quarantine 8(1), 63–66, Doi 10.5943/ppq/8/1/9
Abstract
During a survey of rust fungi in Shangla and Battagram Districts of Khyber Pakutunkhwa,
Pakistan, Phragmidium mexicanum on Duchesnea indica was collected and described as a new
record for Pakistan. This study has raised the number of reported rust taxa of Khyber Pakutunkhwa
to 181.
Key words – Battagram – Shangla – taxonomy – Phragmidium
Introduction
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), formerly known as the Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP), is
one of five Provinces of Pakistan, located in the Northwest of the country. It is situated at
approximately 34.00°N 71.32°E. The area is famous for hill coniferous forests, herbal plants, and
large biodiversity. This is a floristically rich area with many plant diseases such as leaf blights,
smuts and rust (Ullah 2018). Previously about 180 species of rust fungi have been reported from
this area (Afshan & Khalid 2009, Afshan et al. 2008, Ishaq et al. 2013, Ullah et al. 2014, Fiaz et al.
2017, Ullah 2018). During the exploration of Uredinales of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, rust infected
plants were collected from two different areas, Battagram and Shangla Districts. Among these
Phragmidium mexicanum is reported here as a new record for Pakistan.
Materials & Methods
Freehand sections and sori of infected plant materials were mounted in lactic acid. The plants
were photographed and infected portions were observed using a stereomicroscope. At least 20
spores of each spore state were examined using the microscope (Nikon YS 100) and paraphyses
and spore dimensions were made using an ocular micrometer (Zeiss Eyepiece Screw Micrometer).
Sections and spores were microphotographed by digiporo-Labomed. Illustrations were made using
a Lucida camera (Ernst LeitzWetzlar Germany). The rusted specimens have been deposited in the
herbarium of the Botany Department, at Hazara University Mansehra (KP) (HUP).
Results and Discussion
Phragmidium mexicanum (Mains) H.Y. Yun, Minnis & Aime, Mycologia 103: 1452 (2011)
(Figs 1, 2)
Plant Pathology & Quarantine 8(1): 63–66 (2018) ISSN 2229-2217
www.ppqjournal.org Article
Doi 10.5943/ppq/8/1/9
Copyright © Agriculture College, Guizhou University
64
Spermogonia and aecia not observed. Uredinia yellowish, abaxial, subepidermal, circular,
pale yellow, 0.5–0.9 mm in diameter. Urediniospores .19–24 × 18–22.5 µm, globoid to obovoid,
contents yellowish, wall hyaline, 1.2–1.9 µm thick, pores indistinct. Telia yellowish or red, abaxial,
subepidermal, circular, 0.8–0.5 mm diameter. Paraphyses absent. Teliospores 49–94 × 25–35 µm,
fusiform or cylindrical, sometimes slightly curved, apex obtuse, tapering to an obtuse base, 2–7-
celled, mostly yellowish, wall smooth, 3–5 µm thick at apex, 0.9–2.8 µm thick at sides; pores one
per cell, central and apical in apical cells, immediately below septa in subapical cells, pedicels of
constant width, or little tapering below, yellowish above, hyaline below, up to 60 µm long.
Fig. 1 – Phragmidium mexicanum on Duchesnea indica. A Infected leaves of host plant.
B Uredinia and telia on abaxial leaf surface. C Urediniospores. D Teliospores. Scale bars A = 3 cm,
B = 10 mm, C = 10 µm, D = 13 µm.
65
Material examined – Pakistan, KP Province, District Battagram, Allai, on Duchesnea indica
with stage II and III, 1800 m a, s, l., August 2016, Muhammad Fahd MF101 (HUP-MF101);
District Shangla, Kormang, on Duchesnea indica with stage II and III, at 2000 m a, s, l., September
2014, Sadiq Ullah SUR500 (HUP-RSU500).
Notes – Arthur (1912) was the first to recognize this taxon as a distinctive species, describing
it as Kuehneola duchesneae on Duchesnea indica. McCain & Hennen (1990) provided a taxonomic
and nomenclatural revision of this species, and recognized two varieties, F. mexicana var.
mexicana and F. mexicana var. indicae, which were differentiated primarily by the number of cells
per teliospore. Because McCain & Hennen (1990) treated the Mains (1939) species based on
Frommea mexicana and the Arthur (1912) species based on Kuehneola duchesneae as a single
species with two varieties the new teleomorphic name, Frommeella mexicana var. indicae, had to
be introduced at that time because all homotypic synonyms of the Arthur name were based on a
type specimen bearing only the anamorphic, uredinial stage, in spite of Arthur (1912) describing a
telial state. Currently, one species, Phragmidium mexicanum, with no varieties is recognized
because the presence or absence of uredinial paraphyses was variable in the studied material and no
sequence differences were found that would warrant the recognition of two infraspecific taxa (Yun
et al. 2011). Arthur (1925) similarly noted the variable presence or absence of uredinial paraphyses
in this species. Additionally, in the material on Duchesnea indica examined by Yun et al. 2011,
five-celled teliospores were not consistently encountered. Based on the anamorphic nature of the
type specimen of Kuehneola duchesneae that was reported by McCain & Hennen (1990), Yun et al.
(2011) proposed the new combination Phragmidium mexicanum for this fungus. Previously this
species has been reported from Europe, USA, South America, China, Australia, New Zealand and
Korea (Yun et al. 2011). This is the first report from Pakistan.
Fig. 2 – Phragmidium mexicanum Line drawing of A Teliospores and B urediniospores. Scale bars
A = 18 µm, B = 8 µm.
References
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Mycotaxon 108, 137–146.
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