Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The rust fungus Puccinia arechavaletae, a potential biological control agent of balloon vine (Cardiospermum grandiflorum) in South Africa. I: Biology

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Australasian Plant Pathology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Studies on the rust fungus Puccinia arechavaletae, were conducted to determine its potential for use as a classical biological control agent against the alien environmental weed Cardiospermum grandiflorum in South Africa. The production of basidiospores is a crucial stage in the life cycle of this microcyclic rust species, and was determined to optimally occur at 20 °C, under high relative humidity (above 90%), in the presence of free water. The first basidiospores were released from mature telia after being incubated for 4 h under optimum conditions, reaching a peak of production after 24 h. Germination of basidiospores optimally occurred at 20 °C, and they were extremely vulnerable to desiccation. Germinating basidiospores directly penetrated epidermal cells of South African C. grandiflorum within which a vesicle formed, followed by rapid radial colonization of the leaf tissue by fungal mycelium. The first symptoms observed were small chlorotic spots on the leaves from 14 days onwards, with telial pustules appearing between 14 and 21 days post inoculation. The rust P. arechavaletae was shown to be highly pathogenic towards South African C. grandiflorum, causing severe disease symptoms with a detrimental effect on plant health and vigor.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anning AK, Yeboah-Gyan K (2007) Diversity and distribution of invasive weeds in Ashanti region, Ghana. Afr J Ecol 45:355–360

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Batianoff GN, Butler DW (2002) Assessment of invasive naturalized plants in south-East Queensland. Plant Protection Quarterly 17:27–34

    Google Scholar 

  • Bear V, Ondinea D, Brodie L (2001) Exotic invasions and control: putting bushland weeds into a holding pattern. Ecol Manag Restor 2:76–77

    Google Scholar 

  • Berner DK, Bruckart WL (2005) A decision tree for evaluation of exotic plant pathogens for classical biological control of introduced invasive weeds. Biol Control 34:222–232

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bruzzese B, Hasan S (1983) A whole leaf clearing and staining technique for host specificity studies of rust fungi. Plant Pathol 32:335–338

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carroll SP, Mathieson M, Loye JE (2005) Invasion history and ecology of the environmental weed balloon vine, Cardiospermum grandiflorum Swartz, in Australia. Plant Protection Quarterly 20:140–144

    Google Scholar 

  • Dhingra OD, Sinclair JB (1986) Solutions to maintain constant humidity in a closed atmosphere. In: Dhingra OD, Sinclair JB (Eds.) basic plant pathology methods. CRC press, Inc. Boca Raton, Florida, pp. 319-325

  • Ellison CA, Barreto RW (2004) Prospects for the management of invasive alien weeds using co-evolved fungal pathogens: a Latin American perspective. Biol Invasions 6:23–45

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farr DF, Rossman AY (2018) Fungal databases, systematic mycology and microbiology laboratory, ARS, USDA Available from http://nt.ars-grin.gov/fungaldatabases/ (Accessed 22 January 2018)

  • Gildenhuys E, Ellis AG, Carroll SP, Le Roux JJ (2013) The ecology, biogeography, history and future of two globally important weeds: Cardiospermum halicacabum L. and C. grandiflorum Sw. NeoBiota 19:45–65 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.19.5279

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Global Invasive Species Database (GISD) (2005) Cardiospermum grandiflorum (vine, climber). Available from: http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=1346&fr=1&sts=&lang=EN (Accessed 18 June 2010)

  • Harden GJ (2002) Cardiospermum. In: Harden GJ (ed) Flora of new South Wales, vol 2. University of New South Wales Press, Sydney, pp 338–339

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris CJ, Murray BR, Hose GC, Hamilton MA (2007) Introduction history and invasion success in exotic vines introduced to Australia. Divers Distrib 13:467–475. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1472-4642.2007.00375.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Henderson L (2001) Cardiospermum grandiflorum Sw. In: Henderson L (Ed.) Alien weeds and invasive plants: a complete guide to declared weeds and invaders in South Africa. Agricultural Research Council: plant protection research institute, handbook 12, p. 60

  • Henderson L (2006) Comparisons of invasive plants in southern Africa originating from southern temperate, northern temperate and tropical regions. Bothalia 36:201–222

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hennen JF, Figueiredo MB, De Carvaldo AA, Hennen PG (2005) Catalogue of the species of plant rust fungi (Uredinales) of Brazil. Published online by Instituto de Pesquisas Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro. http://www.jbrj.gov.br (Accessed 8 July 2009)

  • Johnston SK, Murray DS, Williams JC (1979) Germination and emergence of balloonvine (Cardiospermum halicacabum). Weed Sci 27:73–76

    Google Scholar 

  • McKay F, Oleiro M, Fourie A, Simelane D (2010) Natural enemies of balloon vine Cardiospermum grandiflorum (Sapindaceae) in Argentina and their potential use as biological control agents in South Africa. Int J Trop Insect Sci 30:67–76. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742758410000135

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morin L, Edwards PB (2006) Selection of biological control agents for bridal creeper: a retrospective review. Aust J Entomol 45:287–291

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morin L, Auld BA, Brown JF (1993) Host range of Puccinia xanthii and postpenetration development on Xanthium occidentale. Can J Bot 71:959–965

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morin L, Willis AJ, Armstrong J, Kriticos D (2002) Spread, epidemic development and impact of the bridal creeper rust in Australia: summary of results. In: Spafford JH, Dodd J, Moore JH (eds) 13th Australian weeds conference papers and proceedings. Plant Protection Society of WA Inc, Perth, Western Australia, pp 385–388

    Google Scholar 

  • Morin L, Evans KJ, Sheppard AW (2006a) Selection of pathogen agents in weed biological control: critical issues and peculiarities in relation to arthropod agents. Aust J Entomol 45:349–365

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morin L, Neave M, Batchelor K, Reid A (2006b) Biological control: a promising tool for managing bridal creeper, Asparagus asparagoides (L.) Druce, in Australia. Plant Protection Quarterly 21:69–77

    Google Scholar 

  • Morris MJ (1991) The use of plant pathogens for biological weed control in South Africa. Agric Ecosyst Environ 37:239–255

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morris MJ, Wood AR, Den Breeyen A (1999) Plant pathogens and biological control of weeds in South Africa: a review of projects and progress during the last decade. Afri Entomol Mem No 1:129–137

  • Olckers T (2004) Targeting emerging weeds for biological control in South Africa: the benefits of halting the spread of alien plants at an early stage of their invasion. South Afri J Sci 100:64–68

    Google Scholar 

  • SAS User’s guide. 1999. Statistics, Version 8.2, SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA

  • Simelane DO, Fourie A, Mawela KV (2011) Prospective agents for the biological control of Cardiospermum grandiflorum Sw. (Sapindaceae) in South Africa. Afri Entomol 19:269–277. https://doi.org/10.1080/09583157.2014.891002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • TeBeest DO, Yang XB, Cisar CR (1992) The status of biological control of weeds with fungal pathogens. Annu Rev Phytopathol 30:637–657

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank the research personnel at the USDA-ARS-South American Biological Control Laboratory in Argentina for their assistance in obtaining isolates of the rust, Puccinia arechavaletae for this study. Financial support for this research project was provided by the Department of Environmental Affairs, Natural Resources Management Programme (DEA:NRMP), South Africa.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Andries Fourie

    Present address: FMC Agricultural Solutions, 1 Pegasus Building, 210 Amarand Ave, Pretoria, 0181, South Africa

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Weeds Division, ARC-Plant Protection Research, P. Bag X5017, Stellenbosch, 7599, South Africa

    Andries Fourie & Alan R. Wood

Authors
  1. Andries Fourie
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Alan R. Wood
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alan R. Wood.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Fourie, A., Wood, A.R. The rust fungus Puccinia arechavaletae, a potential biological control agent of balloon vine (Cardiospermum grandiflorum) in South Africa. I: Biology. Australasian Plant Pathol. 47, 379–387 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13313-018-0569-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13313-018-0569-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation