First report of Melampsoridium hiratsukanum infecting alder (Alnus orientalis var. orientalis) in Turkey

H. Bakır Sert^1,2* and H. Sümbül¹

¹ Akdeniz University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Biology, 07058, Antalya, Turkey
² University of Natural Resources and Biological Life, Institute of Applied Microbiology, Vienna, Austria

*hacersert@yahoo.de

Accepted for publication: 30/09/04

During a disease survey between 1999 and 2001, in the Antalya province of southern Anatolia (Fig. 1), uredinial sori caused by a rust fungus were observed on the leaves and fruits of Alnus orientalis var. orientalis (Fagaceae). 

Figure 1: Map showing Antalya province of southern Anatolia, Turkey where Melampsoridium hiratsukanum was identified

The symptoms observed on infected leaves and the spore morphology matched with those described for a Melampsoridium species (Kurkela et al., 1998; Roll-Hansen & Roll-Hansen, 1981). The sori, which occurred on the lower side of the leaves, were 3-5 mm in diameter and orange-yellow in colour (Fig. 2). Microscopic examination revealed uniformly echinulate urediniospores, measuring 21-35 x 10-16µm. The thickness of the episporium was 1.1-1.45 µm and the ostiolar cells, 41.5-51.8 µm long. Two Melampsoridium species have been described on alders: M. alni and M. hiratsukanum. Melampsoridum alni is very similar morphologically to the leaf rust of birch, M. betulinum, whereas M. hiratsukanum, is morphologically distinguishable from the two (Szabo, 2002). The rust identified in this report accuratley matches the morphological description of M. hiratsukanum.

Figure 2: Symptoms and sori of Melampsoridium hiratsukanum infecting Alnus orientalis var. orientalis

This is the first record of M. hiratsukanum on alder in Turkey. This fungus has been recorded on a diverse range of Alnus species in the world (Farr et al., 2004), however this is the first specific report of infection on Alnus orientalis var. orientalis.

We wish to thank to Prof. Dr. Mustafa Işıloglu for his valuable comments and Akdeniz University Scientific Research Project Unit for the financial support (Project no: 21.01.0121.01).

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Kurkela T, Hanso M, Hantula J, 1999. Differentiating characteristics between Melampsoridium rusts infecting birch and alder leaves. Mycologia 91, 987-992.

Roll-Hansen F, Roll-Hansen H, 1981. Melampsoridium on Alnus in Europe. M. alni conspecific with M. betulinum. European Journal of Forest Pathology 11, 77-87.

Szabo I, 2002. First Report of Melampsoridium hiratsukanum on common alder in Hungary. Plant Pathology 51, 804.

The British Society for Plant Pathology