Fungi by Nicholas P. Money

Author:Nicholas P. Money [Money, Nicholas P.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780199688784
Publisher: OUP Oxford
Published: 2015-11-24T00:00:00+00:00

Rusts

Stripe rust is a highly destructive disease of wheat that poses a significant threat to global food security. It is widespread across wheat-growing regions and has been called the ‘polio of agriculture’. Stripe rust, also known as yellow rust, is caused by the rust fungus Puccinia striiformis. This microorganism feeds on wheat and a thorny shrub called barberry, alternating between these plant hosts according to its stage of development (Figure 22).

Stripe rust on wheat produces lines of yellow blisters between the leaf veins that are filled with spores. The spores in the blisters are urediniospores (also called urediospores and uredospores) and spread the infection through a crop when they are dispersed by wind. When urediniospores germinate on wheat, their filamentous hyphae extend over the leaf surface and are capable of detecting tiny ripples associated with the underlying cells. The sensitivity of the fungus allows it to angle its growth across the leaf rather than along the length of the blade. By growing in this direction, the fungus maximizes the likelihood of finding open breathing pores, or stomata, which offer easy access to the interior of the plant. Germination of the spores is timed to coincide with the cooler morning temperatures when the stomata are open. Wheat plants close their stomata in late morning to reduce water loss.

22. The complex life cycle of a cereal rust.

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