ARS | Publication request: Life cycle of Puccinia crupinae, a candidate fungal biological control agent for Crupina vulgaris

Submitted to: Phytopathology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: March 17, 2009
Publication Date: August 1, 2009
Citation: Eskandari, F., Bruckart, W.L. 2009. Life cycle of Puccinia crupinae, a candidate fungal biological control agent for Crupina vulgaris. Phytopathology. 99(6):533.

Technical Abstract: Crupina vulgaris (Common crupina, Asteraceae) is an introduced weed pest in the western United States. An isolate of the rust fungus Puccinia crupinae from the Greece is currently under evaluation as a candidate for biological control of C. crupina in a Biosafety Level 3 (BL-3) containment greenhouse facility. The life cycle of P. crupinae has been completed in greenhouse studies, demonstrating that it is macrocyclic and autoecious on common crupina. Plant inoculations were made with spores from each stage in the fungus life cycle, demonstrating their viability and role in the life cycle. Data will be included in a risk assessment of P. crupinae for biological control of C. vulgaris.