Biologia 69/2: 163—167, 2014 Section Botany DOI: 10.2478/s11756-013-0302-3 A Taphrina on Potentilla erecta new in Slovakia Kamila Bacigálová1, Jana Petrýdesová1, Wies
law Mu
lenko2 & Monika Koz
lowska2 1 Institute of Botany, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravska cesta 9, SK-845-23 Bratislava, Slovakia; e-mail: kamila.bacigalova@savba.sk 2 Department of Botany and Mycology, Maria Curie-Sk
lodowska University, Akademicka 19, PL-20-033 Lublin, Poland Abstract: A species of Taphrina was collected on Potentilla erecta in Slovakia for the first time. It causes yellowish thickening of stems and leaves. The fungus was identified as Taphrina tormentillae, that is quite common on Potentilla erecta in the north Europe. Key words: Taphrina tormentillae; T. potentillae; Ascomycota; ecology; taxonomy; Tatry Mts Introduction The genus Taphrina Fr. (Ascomycota) covers phytopathogenic fungi parasitizing on flowering plants and ferns. The most of species causes morphological changes on twigs, leaves or fruits of trees and bushes (e.g., on species of Alnus, Populus, Betula, Prunus, Padus, Cerasus), but those on leaves of ferns are very rare (Bacigálová et al. 2002). Only Taphrina tormentillae [syn. T. potentillae (Farl.) Johanson] is parasitic on herbaceous host plants. It is associated with host species of Potentilla and Oreogeum montanum (syn. Geum montanum) until now (Mix 1949, 1954; Gjaerum 1964; Sa
lata 1974; Bacigálová 1992, 2010; Fonseca et Rodrigues 2011). This species was known as T. potentillae (Mix 1949), but later Mix (1954) recognized the name T. tormentillae as the correct one for the fungus causing leaf and stem infections on several taxa of the genus Potentilla and Oreogeum. In this paper we accept this conception and only the further study will show whether these are synonyms or two different species. There are no data of Taphrina sp. on Potentilla species in Slovakia until now (Bacigálová 2010), although Taphrina potentillae was found on Oreogeum montanum (L.) E.I. Golubk. in Slovak part of Vysoké Tatry Mts (Bacigálová 1992). In this region the only record is known from the Polish side of Tatry Mts reported 88 years ago by Wróblewski (1925), and up to the time not collected again. However, in the last paper there is no information on precise localization of this collection. During our latest mycofloristic survey in Tatra Mts among other microfungi a Taphrina parasiting on Potentilla erecta (L.) Raeusch. was collected. The living leaves, steams and green parts of flowers were infected. Considering the first record in our territory we studied the anatomical-morphological characters of this fungus and the ecological condition of its occurrence. c 2013 Institute of Botany, Slovak Academy of Sciences
Material and methods Naturally infected parts of Potentilla erecta (living leaves and stems) infected by Taphrina tormentillae were obtained during mycofloristic research in Vysoké Tatry Mts in the years 2011-2012. For identification of the fungus both visual symptoms of infected plant and anatomical-morphological characteristics of fungus were used. They were observed by taking thin cross sections from naturally infected leaves embedded in drop of 50% lactic acid. Observations were carried out using the Amplival microscope fitted with microphotographic equipment. The collected specimens of Taphrina tormentillae were deposited in the Mycological Herbarium of the Institute of Botany, Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV) and Mycological Herbarium of Department of Botany and Mycology, Maria Curie-Sk
lodowska University in Lublin (LBL, PL). Description of the fungus Current name: Taphrina tormentillae Rostr. Bot. Tidsskr. 14:239, 1885 Basionym: Exoascus deformans (Berk.) Fuckel var. potentillae Farl., Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts & Sci. 18: 84 (1883) Synonyms: Taphrina potentillae (Farl.) Johanson, Öfvers. Kongl. Vetensk-Akad. Förhandl., 42 (1): 35 (1885) Ascomyces potentillae (Farl.) W. Phillips, Man. Brit. Discomyc. (London): 402 (1887) Exoascus potentillae (Farl.) Sacc., Syll. fung. (Abellini) 8: 819 (1889) Magnusiella potentillae (Farl.) Sadeb., Jahrb. Hamburg. Wiss. Anst. 10: 86 (1893) Symptoms: The symptoms start as pale-green slightly thickened irregular spots on living leaves, green part of flowers and very slight swelling of petiole of Potentilla erecta. Later the infected tissues are hypertrophy changed, become yellowish thickened, shapeless convex blister spots on adaxial side of the leaf (Fig. 1A). In the course of development of asci the cuticle ruptures 164 K. Bacigálová et al. Fig. 1. A–F. Taphrina tormentillae on Potentilla erecta. A – thickened, shapeless blister-like spots on leaves and swelling of petiole; B–F – various stages of ascus developement (B–C, vegetative mycelium and subepidermal ascogenous cells; D–E, various stages of asci development; F, asci with ascospores and thin basal part of ascus (pedicel) fixed between the epidermal cells of host tissue; G, ascospores budding into blastospores). Scale bars = 10 µm. Taphrina on Potentilla erecta new in Slovakia 165 Table 1. Comparison of the size of asci of Taphrina species associated with Potentilla species and Oreogeum montanum. Literature data Taphrinaspecies Host plant Sadebeck (1893) Mix (1949) Magnusiella potentillae Taphrina potentillae Oreogeum montanum Jeschková (1957) Taphrina potentillae Gjaerum (1964) Taphrina tormentillae Sa
lata (1974) Taphrina potentillae Potentilla sylvestris Geum monatnum Potentilla arguta Potentilla canadensis Potentilla corsica Potentilla erecta (syn. Potentilla tormentilla) Potentilla erecta Potentilla rupestris Potentilla canadensis Bacigálová (1992) Taphrina potentillae Oreogeum montanum Bacigálová et.al. Taphrina tormentillae Potentilla erecta and the mature asci are formed as a white cover on the surface of blister spots and elongated swelling petioles. Size of asci 40–55 × 7–10 µm 17–58 × 7–17 µm 42.5–57.5 × 6.5–10 µm 27–41 × 7–10 µm 17–58 (25–40 20–58 (24–33 40–55 (50 × × × × × × 7–17 µm 8–12 µm) 8–20 µm 10–12 µm) 8–10 µm 10 µm) Size of ascospores 5–8 × 4 µm 45.5 × 3–4.5 µm 2.5–5 × 5 µm no data 4.5–6 × 3–4.5 µm 4–5 × 3–5 µm 4–6 × 4 µm then narrow and long asci of T. tormentillae (Table 1). The other very importance difference between this two Taphrina species is their ecology and occurrence. Anatomical-morphological characteristics The form of the vegetative and ascogenous cells of Taphrina tormentillae is largely determined by the host cells surrounding them. The cells of vegetative mycelium are thin, may vary from ovoid to cylindrical, various length and shape, divided by layered septa (Fig. 1B). Later the cells become ovoid and are scattered irregularly beneath the epidermal layer. During maturing, the ascogenous cells grow between the epidermal cells become very slender, and beneath the cuticle they become rounded or clavate. The pedicel of intercellular mycelium remains between epidermal cells with (Fig. 1C.). Later, the ascogenous cells broaden and form asci (Fig. 1D). Asci are epiphyllous or amphigenous, clavate 40–55 × 8–10 µm, most frequently 50 × 10 µm. Apical part of asci with spores are most frequently 30 µm length and 8–10 µm broad, round or truncate at the apex with a long and thin basal part of ascus (pedicel) fixed between the epidermal cells of host tissue. (Fig. 1E). Eight spherical or ellipsoidal ascospores, 4–6 × 4 µm, are formed in the ascus (Fig. 1F). Budding of spores in the ascus was not observed. Blastospores are formed after the spores discharging the asci (Fig. 1G.). The comparison of symptoms and microscopic characteristics of asci on Potentilla erecta from our study with those on other host plants in literature shows, that this species appears to be similar to Taphrina tormentillae (T. potentillae) on Potentilla erecta as described by Jeschková (Jeschková 1957) and on Potentilla sylvestris described by Sadebeck (Sadebeck 1893), having the same form and size of asci and ascospores (Table 1). The table show also taxonomical differences of asci and ascospores between T. tormentillae on P. erecta and T. potentillae on Oreogeum montanum as characterised by Mix (1949) and Bacigálová (1992). The matured asci of the latter species are wider and shorter Locations of the fungus and their ecological characteristics Taphrina tormentillae parasitizes on Potentilla erecta in the Carpathians in the ecological conditions of montane vegetation levels ca 1,088 – 1,130 m a.s.l. in Vysoké Tatry Mts in the location of spruce forest affected by a windstorm in 2004. The first locality of collection was in Velická dolina valley near Tatranská Polianka village (SW slope of Veľký krížny kopec Mt.). The fungus was collected in two years – 2011 and 2012. The second location was near Nový Smokovec village (S slope of Slavkovský štít Mt.). This place was fired off in 2005, and the fungus was collected once at 2012. Both locations were characterized by rich abundance of herbaceous plants which are not natural there. In the time the spontaneous fast succession of the plants characteristic for the open and sunny areas, also synanthropic and ruderal. Moreover there is probably a small number of propagules of plants natural for this mountain level inside the ground after more than hundred years of spruce cultivation. Present ecological environments favor growth and distribution of Potentilla erecta, the host of Taphrina tormentillae. It is a species of wide ecological amplitude, growing on the open areas, especially on the grounds with acidic reactions what is characteristic for the spruce forests. In Tatry Mts it is reported from elevation up to 1,550 m a.s.l., however its natural localities are dispersed and not common. Population of plants on these disturbed areas are new and young, occurring in dense groups and growing very fast. The situation probably favors the plant infection and spreading of diseases in the region. It partially explains our present collections after many years from the first one, and occurrence of the fungus simultaneously on some ecological similar places. For a period of time the fungus can be noted here more often as yet. Similar environments were reported for the collec- 166 tion in other countries. Taphrina tormentillae on P. erecta have been found in montane vegetation level in Norway up to 540 m a.s.l. (Gjaerum 1964) and in submontane level in Bohemia up to 400 m a.s.l. (Jeschková, 1957). During the own observations of third author (WM) carried out in Caledonian Pine Forest in Scotland (Glen Tanar Nature Reserve, ca 70 km of W of Aberdeen) in 1993 the fungus was collected from about 11 localities on the area ca 200 ha at alt. ca 200–300 m a.s.l. The plant was present in many different places, however affected by fungus first of all in moist areas, on the roadsides, borders of forest, near the streams etc. Some collected samples were deposited in LBL (leg. W. Mu
lenko). In contrast T. potentillae on Oreogeum montanum is very rare species at first reported from Monte Rotondo Mts. by Maire in Korsica (Mix 1949). The collection in Tatry Mountains is second in the world and is more reach in samples. The information on occurrence of the fungus was described in detail in two earlier papers (Bacigálová et al. 2005; Mu
lenko et al. 2006). The plant occurs in whole area of Tatry Mts but is more common in the higher levels at alt. 1,500–2,500 m a.s.l. The fungus also occurs in subalpine and alpine vegetation level mainly in the part of Vysoké Tatry Mts. The first sample was collected at 1,700 m a.s.l. by Bacigálová (1992). Actually it is know from more than 10 localities at elevation 1,800–1,900 m a.s.l., however the one sample was find et 2,010 m a.s.l. (Bacigálová et al. 2005; Mu
lenko et al. 2006). It seems to be the high mountainous species occurs in vicinity of mountain lakes. The specimen studied On living leaves and stems ofPotentilla erecta: 1. Vysoké Tatry Mts, Tatranská Polianka village, Velická dolina valley, alt. 1,088 m a.s.l., N49◦ 07.740/ E20◦ 10.763, herbaceous plants near tourist route, 27 July 2011, leg. K. Bacigálová (SAV – K1704); 2. Ibidem, 25 July 2012, leg. K. Bacigálová & J. Petrydesová (SAV – K1720). 3. Ibidem, 27 July 2011, leg. M. Koz
lowska & W. Mu
lenko (LBL M-12565). 4. Vysoké Tatry Mts., Tatranská Polianka village, Velická dolina valley, alt. 1,130 m a.s.l., N49◦ 07.875/ E20◦ 10.656, herbaceous plants near tourist route, 27 July 2011, leg. M. Koz
lowska (LBL M-12566). 5. S slope of Slavkovský štít Mt., near permanent plot FIR (TANAP) – fired spruce forest near Nový Smokovec village, alt. 1,105 m a.s.l., N49◦ 08.249/ E20◦ 10.656, herbaceous plants on harvested road, 01 July 2012, leg. W. Mu
lenko & M. Koz
lowska (LBL M12567). General distribution The combinations Taphrina-Potentilla are not rare on the world. In the Fungal Databases (Farr & Rossman 2013) the total number of 54 records were reported using the criteria Taphrina potentillae, however, there are K. Bacigálová et al. only 18 records of the host-fungus combination. There are also 110 records of specimens deposited in the USA herbaria but only 12 of them concern Potentilla erecta. The fungus was found on 17 taxa of the genus Potentilla from Europe and North America (USA) (Mix 1949; Sa
lata 1974, 1975; Farr et al. 1989; Farr & Rossman 2013). Most of records come from USA where the fungus was reported on 8 taxa of plants (Potentilla arguta, P. canadensis, P. flabellifolia, P. glandulosa, P. glandulosa subsp. nevadensis, P. norvegica, P. pumila, P. simplex). In Europe until now it was reported only from five countries – France (on Potentilla corsica; Mix 1949), Sweden (on P. geoides and P. recta; Mix 1949), Germany (on P. rupestris and P. ×procumbenssilvestris; Mix 1949), Norway (on P. rupestris; Gjaerum 1964), and Poland (P. rupestris; Sa
lata 1975; Mu
lenko et al. 2008). Additional records come from Bohemia (on Potentilla erecta; Jeschkova 1957) and Rumania (on P. thuringica var. genuine; Bechet 1973) Conclusion The examination of the new material of infected plants allowed us more detailed description of fungi. Comparison of biological and ecological characters of the two isolates collected on Potentila erecta and Oreogeum montanum in Vysoké Tatry Mts. leads us to believe that there are probably two different Taphrina species. To confirm this supposing we continue the taxonomic study including the genotypic analyses of this two fungal isolates. Acknowledgements The study was supported by the Grant Agency VEGA Bratislava, projects No. 2/0106/10 and 2/0051/13 and State Committee for Scientific Research (Poland) grant No. 2 P04C 089 27 and No. N/N304/172436. References Bacigálová K. 1992. Taphrina potentillae on Parageum montanum – a new species in Slovakia.Česká Mykologie 46: 138– 142. Bacigálová K. 2010. Mycota, Ascomycota, Taphrinomycetes. Flóra Slovenska Vol. X/2, Veda Bratislava, pp. 1–183. Bacigálová K., Mu
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