Plantainlily rust fungus is distinct from daylily rust fungus

Abstract

Plantainlily rust fungus, Puccinia funkiae, was proven to host-alternate between Hosta species (plantainlilies) and a patrinia, Patrinia villosa. Unlike Puccinia hemerocallidis (daylily rust fungus), P. funkiae was not pathogenic on Patrinia scabiosaefolia or on Hemerocallis species (daylilies). The urediniospores were also larger and thicker-walled than those of the daylily rust fungus. The two or three urediniospore germ pores of the plantainlily rust fungus were equatorially distributed, whereas there were several germ pores in P. hemerocallidis spores, and they were scattered over the wall. Thus, P. funkiae is biologically and taxonomically distinct from P. hemerocallidis.