Rust HUBB: DNA barcode-based identification of Pucciniales.

Rust fungi (Pucciniales, Basidiomycota) are a species-rich (ca. 8000 species), globally distributed order of obligate plant pathogens. Rust species are host-specific, and as a group they cause disease on many of our most economically and/or ecologically significant plants. As such, the ability to accurately and rapidly identify these fungi is of particular interest to mycologists, botanists, agricultural scientists, farmers, quarantine officials, and associated stakeholders. However, the complexities of the rust life cycle, which may include production of up to five different spore types and alternation between two unrelated host species, have made standard identifications, especially of less-documented spore states or alternate hosts, extremely difficult. The Arthur Fungarium (PUR) at Purdue University is home to one of the most comprehensive collections of rust fungi in the world. Using material vouchered in PUR supplemented with fresh collections we generated DNA barcodes of the 28S ribosomal repeat from > 3700 rust fungal specimens. Barcoded material spans 120 genera and > 1100 species, most represented by several replicate sequences. Barcodes and associated metadata are hosted in a publicly accessible, BLAST searchable database called Rust HUBB (Herbarium-based Universal Barcode Blast) and will be continuously updated.

Phragmidium rosae-multiflorae on Rosa multiflora reported from Pennsylvania, USA.

Rosa multiflora Thunb. is a perennial shrub native to eastern Asia. It is commonly found on habitat margins, such as forest edges, streams, and roadsides (CABI n.d.). Due to its aromatic flowers, its usefulness in erosion control, and as a living livestock fence, R. multiflora was introduced to North America as an ornamental in the early 1800's (Hindal and Wong 1988). However, R. multifora, grows rapidly and frequently outcompetes native species, and is therefore considered invasive in North America (Hindal and Wong 1988). In May 2020 Phragmidium rosae-multiflorae Dietel, or rose rust, was collected from R. multiflora in Patton Woods Park, a small residential park in Patton Township, Centre Co., PA, USA (40° 47' 28.40" N; 77° 55' 33.37" W). P. rosae-multiflorae is an autoecious macrocyclic rust fungus known to occur on R. multiflora in the plant's native range. To our knowledge, there are no previously published records of P. rosae-multiflorae in North America. The host exhibited conspicuous aecia on the stems and petioles. Aecia were caeoma form, orange, irregular, erumpant, and pulverulent. Aeciospores were one-celled, verrucose, hyaline to pale yellow, variable in shape, ranging from ellipsoidal to globose (Fig.1), measuring 22.5 ± 3 × 15.5 ± 5 µm (n = 30). Disease symptomology and aecia are consistent with P. rosae-multiflorae Dietel (Wei 1988; Liu et. al 2020). Fungal DNA was extracted from infected petioles. Polymerase chain reaction and sequencing of the 28S region of the nuclear ribosomal DNA repeat was conducted with primers Rust2inv and LR6 following protocols in Aime (2006). The sequence shares 98.77% identity (900 / 487 bp) with P. Rosae-multiflorae from China (MN264739). A voucher specimen has been preserved in the Arthur Fungarium at Purdue University (PUR N23123) with corresponding 28S sequence (GenBank accession #MZ323415). The recorded occurrence of P. rosae-multiflorae on R. multiflora in North America is significant, given the ecological impact of the host plant as an invasive species and need for biocontrol. While no formally published records of this fungus in North America exist, there are putative occurrences across the northeastern United States reported on Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) and the Maryland Biodiversity Project websites.

Insects and their Laboulbeniales (Ascomycota, Fungi) of Lake Eustis and Emeralda Marsh Conservation Area: A case study on urbanization and diversity.

A rapid biodiversity assessment of insects and associated Laboulbeniales fungi was conducted over the course of five nights in August, 2018, at two central Florida lakes: Lake Eustis and the nearby protected and restored National Natural Landmark, Emeralda Marsh Conservation Area (EMCA), which encompasses a portion of Lake Griffin. Lake Eustis was surveyed for Laboulbeniales in 1897 by mycologist Dr. Roland Thaxter but has not since been investigated. Because Lake Eustis has been urbanized, with the lake perimeter almost entirely altered by human development, the site offers a look into Laboulbeniales diversity across a 121-year timeline, before and after human development. By surveying Lake Eustis and EMCA, a modern case study comparison of Laboulbeniales and insect diversity between a developed and a protected and restored system is made. A total of 4022 insects were collected during the rapid assessment. Overall, insect abundance was greater at EMCA, with 3001 insects collected, than 1021 insects collected from Eustis. Although family-level insect richness was comparable between sites, with 55 families present at EMCA and 56 at Eustis, 529 out of 3001 (17.6%) of the insects collected at EMCA were hosts to parasitic Laboulbeniales fungi, whereas only 2 out of 1021 (0.19%) collected from Eustis were infected. A total of 16 species of Laboulbeniales found at EMCA compared with only one at Eustis. The current number of Laboulbeniales species documented at Eustis was incredibly depauperate compared with the 26 species and two varieties recorded by Thaxter in 1897. These findings suggest the possibility of utilizing Laboulbeniales as indicators of ecosystem health, and future research should investigate this question further. A figure displaying host-parasite records and a species list of Laboulbeniales are presented. Finally, updated occurrence records for species of Ceratomyces and Hydrophilomyces are provided.

New species of Laboulbenia (Laboulbeniales, Ascomycota) on Heteroptera (Hemiptera, Insecta) from South America.

Four new species of Laboulbenia are described, adding substantially to the known species recorded from Heteroptera hosts. Previously, only 12 species of Laboulbenia and only 96 of the approximate 2325 known species of Laboulbeniales have been recorded on the Heteroptera. The addition of these four new species of Laboulbenia, occurring on two genera within Veliidae, brings the total number to 100 species. These species are recorded on the genera Paravelia and Oiovelia collected from Brazil, Suriname, and Peru.

New species of Laboulbenia (Laboulbeniales, Ascomycota) on Gerridae (Hemiptera, Insecta), a new host family.

Four new species of Laboulbenia (Laboulbeniales, Ascomycota) occurring on Gerridae (Hemiptera, Insecta), a new host family, are described from six Central and South American countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela. The new species are Laboulbenia brachymetrae, L. cylindrostethi, L. neogerris, and L. tachygerris.

New species of Prolixandromyces (Laboulbeniales) from South America.

Four new species of Prolixandromyces (Laboulbeniales, Ascomycota) found on Veliidae (Heteroptera) from Bolivia, Brazil, Peru, and Venezuela are described and illustrated. These four species, Prolixandromyces anseris, P. tritici, P. blackwelliae, and P. bromelicola, represent the first records of this genus from South America, and their discovery requires emendation of the original generic circumscription. The newly described fungi are compared with known species, and a new key to identification is provided.