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First Report of Gladiolus Rust Caused by Uromyces transversalis in Michoacán, México

During October 2005, rust lesions were observed on leaves of gladiolus (Gladiolus sp.) plants being grown for flower production in a 20-ha field in eastern Michoacán, México. Disease incidence was near 100% in the field. Five symptomatic plants were collected on 11 and 25 October 2005, from each of 10 farms for further examination. Uredinia were scattered, orange, elliptical to irregular, and arranged transversely across the leaf. The sori were covered by the epidermis initially and later were erumpent and pulverulent. Urediniospores were bright yellow gold, ovate to oblong, and measured 15 × 19 μm (average). The urediniospore wall was hyaline and minutely echinulate. Telia were scattered, dark brown, elliptical, arranged transversely across the leaf, and were covered by the epidermis. Teliospores were irregularly pyriform, ovate, irregular or angular, light to dark brown with a conical or truncate apex and measured 17 × 23 μm (average). The teliospore wall measured 1 μm (average) thick at the sides and 3 μm (average) thick at the apex. Pedicels were light yellow and measured as much as 60 × 3 μm (average). On the basis of these characters, the rust was identified as Uromyces transversalis (Thüm.) G. Winter (1). To our knowledge this is the first report of U. transversalis causing gladiolus rust in Michoacán, México. Originally reported from Africa, the disease has been reported from Argentina, Brazil, southern Europe, and Oceania (1). Gladiolus rust caused by Uromyces transversalis is a quarantine disease for Europe and the United States. There have been unpublished reports of interceptions of this rust on cut flowers of gladiolus going from México into the United States (1).

References: (1) J. R. Hernández. Invasive Fungi. Gladiolus Rust. Systematic Botany and Mycology Laboratory, Online publication. ARS, USDA, 2004.