Fungi: Basidiomycota: Pucciniomycetes: Pucciniales: Pucciniaceae: Puccinia xanthii Schwein.

Puccinia xanthii

Synonyms: Leptopuccinia xanthii, Micropuccinia xanthii.

Extract from Wikipedia article: Puccinia xanthii is a plant pathogen infecting sunflowers. It also causes rust on Xanthium occidentale and can be used as a form of biological control where this plant is an invasive species.

AI-generated description

Puccinia xanthii is a species of rust fungus that infects plants in the family Malvaceae, particularly cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium) and other related species. In East and Central Texas, Puccinia xanthii has been found to be widespread, with reports of infection on various hosts including cocklebur, burcucumber (Sicyos angulatus), and velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti). The fungus typically produces orange to yellow spores on the underside of leaves, and can cause significant damage to infected plants. It is an important pathogen in agricultural ecosystems, particularly in regions where its hosts are common weeds.

Photos of this mushroom from East and Central Texas

Teliospores (in KOH, low magnification) of cocklebur rust fungus (Puccinia xanthii) from underside of leaves of cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium) collected over sewage line in Lick Creek Park a day before. College Station, Texas, August 13, 2023

Teliospores (in KOH) of cocklebur rust fungus (Puccinia xanthii) from underside of leaves of cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium), collected over sewage line in Lick Creek Park a day before. College Station, Texas, August 13, 2023

Large teliospores (in KOH) of cocklebur rust fungus (Puccinia xanthii) from underside of leaves of cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium), collected over sewage line in Lick Creek Park a day before. College Station, Texas, August 13, 2023

Details of teliospores (in KOH) of cocklebur rust fungus (Puccinia xanthii) from underside of leaves of cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium), collected over sewage line in Lick Creek Park a day before. College Station, Texas, August 13, 2023

Biseptate teliospores (in KOH) of cocklebur rust fungus (Puccinia xanthii) from underside of leaves of cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium), collected over sewage line in Lick Creek Park a day before. College Station, Texas, August 13, 2023

Underside of leaves of cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium) damaged by cocklebur rust fungus (Puccinia xanthii), collected over sewage line in Lick Creek Park a day before. College Station, Texas, August 13, 2023

Cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium) with cocklebur rust fungus (Puccinia xanthii), over sewage line in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, August 15, 2023
Racoon Run Trail, College Station, Brazos County, Texas, United States

Leaves of cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium) with cocklebur rust fungus (Puccinia xanthii), over sewage line in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, August 15, 2023
Racoon Run Trail, College Station, Brazos County, Texas, United States

Shoot of cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium) with cocklebur rust fungus (Puccinia xanthii), over sewage line in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, August 15, 2023
Racoon Run Trail, College Station, Brazos County, Texas, United States

Upper and lowers sides of leaves of cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium) with cocklebur rust fungus (Puccinia xanthii), over sewage line in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, August 15, 2023
Racoon Run Trail, College Station, Brazos County, Texas, United States

AI-generated summary of observations

Observations of Puccinia xanthii in East and Central Texas revealed the presence of teliospores on the underside of cocklebur leaves, collected from Lick Creek Park in College Station. The teliospores were observed to be biseptate and large, with some specimens showing details of their structure under low magnification in KOH. The fungus caused damage to the underside of leaves, resulting in rust-colored spots. Infected cocklebur plants were found near a sewage line, with affected areas including leaves, shoots, and upper and lower sides of leaves. Similar observations were made on two consecutive days, August 13 and 15, 2023, indicating an active infection. The fungus was widespread on the plants, with multiple leaves and shoots showing signs of infection.

Comments

• Data for this species were obtained from the dataset https://www.gbif.org.
• There is a Wikipedia article about this species.

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Links

• List of mushrooms with photos.
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• Mushrooms from Texas, old version of web page.
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• Collection of mushrooms from Qatar.
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• Home page of A. Sergeev.

Acknowledgements

Mushroom Observer and Facebook for learning names of local mushrooms.

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