Unusual basidal development and nuclear behaviour in the microcyclic rust fungus Puccina boriniae

Driessen, S.A., O'Brien, P.A. and Hardy, G.E.St.J. (2005) Unusual basidal development and nuclear behaviour in the microcyclic rust fungus Puccina boriniae. In: 15th Australasian Plant Pathology Society Conference, 26-29 September, Geelong, Vic.

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Abstract

Rust fungi exhibit a large diversity in their basidial development. The typical cycle represented in many textbooks is a haploid binucleate teliospore undergoing karyogamy and meiosis to germinate and produce four haploid basidiospores on a four celled metabasidium. This behaviour is most often seen in the macro- and demicyclic rust species. However, great variation from this 'norm' is often present in microcyclic rust species.

Puccinia boroniae is a microcyclic rust species endemic to Australia. The objectives of this study were to examine basidial development over time, and the nuclear behaviour during teliospore germination.