ARS | Publication request: MORPHOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SIBLING SPECIES OF CERCOSPORA ZEAE-MAYDISAND C. SORGHI.

Submitted to: Phytopathology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: September 4, 2001
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Corn was inoculated with isolates of the two sibling species (Type 1,2) of Cercospora zeae-maydis and C. sorghi var. maydis in the summers of 1998-200 After typical Gray Leaf Spot symptoms were evident in the field, leaves wer picked, placed in a plant press and dried. Lesions were then excised and pl in a moist chamber to induce sporulation. Fascicles of conidiophores were p poff with a needle and placed on a slide for examination via light microsco Conidia of C. zeae-maydisType 2 isolates were significantly shorter, narrow and had fewer septa than those of Type 1 isolates. Conidiophores of C. zea maydis Type 2 were significantly wider that those of Type 1. Both sibling species of C. zeae-maydis were readily distinguished from C. sorghi based o spore morphology. Scanning electron microscopy was used to image the sporul leaf surface to find other morphological differences between these species commonly found on corn. Preliminary results indicate that the number of conidiophores / fascicle may also be a useful characteristic in distinguis between the sibling species of C. zeae-maydis.