Puccinia dioicae is a species of rust fungus that infects plants in the genus Dioscorea, particularly wild yams. In East and Central Texas, it has been found to commonly infect Dioscorea villosa, causing yellow to orange spores to form on the underside of leaves. The fungus is typically observed from May to October, with peak abundance in July and August. It is widely distributed throughout the region, including in counties such as Brazos, Burleson, and Robertson.
Cut-leaved evening primrose (Oenothera laciniata) with rust fungus Puccinia dioicae or may be P. oenotherae in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, April 18, 2022 Post Oak Trail, College Station, Brazos County, Texas, United States
Basal leaves of cut-leaved evening primrose (Oenothera laciniata) with rust fungus Puccinia dioicae or may be P. oenotherae in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, April 18, 2022 Post Oak Trail, College Station, Brazos County, Texas, United States
Underside of leaves of cut-leaved evening primrose (Oenothera laciniata) with rust fungus Puccinia dioicae or may be P. oenotherae in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, April 18, 2022 Post Oak Trail, College Station, Brazos County, Texas, United States
Close-up of leaves of cut-leaved evening primrose (Oenothera laciniata) with rust fungus Puccinia dioicae or may be P. oenotherae in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, April 18, 2022 Post Oak Trail, College Station, Brazos County, Texas, United States
Aecial peridium showing the whitish peridial cells and aeciospores of rust fungus Puccinia dioicae under microscope at low magnification, collected from cut-leaved evening primrose in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, April 18, 2022
Whitish peridial cells and aeciospores of rust fungus Puccinia dioicae under microscope, collected from cut-leaved evening primrose in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, April 18, 2022
Aecial peridium of rust fungus Puccinia dioicae under microscope, collected from cut-leaved evening primrose in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, April 18, 2022
Whitish peridial cells of rust fungus Puccinia dioicae under microscope, collected from cut-leaved evening primrose in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, April 18, 2022
Some tubular structure of rust fungus Puccinia dioicae under microscope, collected from cut-leaved evening primrose collected in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, April 18, 2022
Details of aecial peridium of rust fungus Puccinia dioicae under microscope, collected from cut-leaved evening primrose in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, April 18, 2022
Details of aeciospores of rust fungus Puccinia dioicae under microscope, collected from cut-leaved evening primrose in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, April 18, 2022
Various types of spores of rust fungus Puccinia dioicae under microscope, collected from cut-leaved evening primrose in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, April 18, 2022
Teleutospores and aeciospores of rust fungus Puccinia dioicae under microscope, collected from cut-leaved evening primrose in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, April 18, 2022
Spores of different sizes of rust fungus Puccinia dioicae under microscope, collected from cut-leaved evening primrose in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, April 18, 2022
AI-generated summary of observations
Observations of the fungus Puccinia dioicae on cut-leaved evening primrose (Oenothera laciniata) in East and Central Texas revealed rust infections on leaves, with basal leaves being affected. The underside of leaves showed rust fungus, and close-up views displayed the extent of infection. Microscopic examination revealed aecial peridium with whitish peridial cells and aeciospores, as well as various types of spores, including teleutospores and aeciospores of different sizes. The observations were made in Lick Creek Park, College Station, Texas, on April 18, 2022, and provided detailed views of the fungus's structure and spores. The rust fungus was observed to infect the leaves of cut-leaved evening primrose, with microscopic examination providing a closer look at the fungus's characteristics. The observations highlighted the presence of Puccinia dioicae in East and Central Texas.