Effects of temperature and humidity on the survival of urediniospores of gladiolus rust (Uromyces transversalis)

Abstract

Uromyces transversalis is an autoecious microcyclic rust mainly infecting Gladiolus spp. The pathogen is considered of plant quarantine importance in Europe and the USA. In 2006, the pathogen was found for the first time in the USA in several commercial nurseries in Florida and California. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) initiated an eradication programme that recommended the immediate removal and destruction of infected plants followed by a host-free period, use of a fungicide treatment schedule, and equipment decontamination. In support of this plan, a study was conducted to determine how long urediniospores of U. transversalis would continue to germinate at temperatures of 2.8, 15.0, 18.8 and 25.0°C under controlled relative humidities (RH) of 11, 23, 43, 75, 93 and 100%. Choice of temperature and humidity parameters were mostly based on historical multi-year climate data from areas where the disease was detected in California and Florida. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated no significant effect of RH on urediniospore germination but a highly significant effect of temperature. No germinating urediniospores were detected after 79 days for any treatment, but the 15°C treatment was more likely to be the result of germination independent of any low or high temperature-induced spore quiescence. Thus, lack of germination after 79 days was probably a good indicator of the lack of viable spores after this time for the 15°C treatment.