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Molecular identification and pathogenicity assessment of a rust fungus infecting common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) in its native North American range

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Abstract

A rust fungus collected from common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) in Texas, USA, was identified as belonging to the Puccinia xanthii morphospecies based on its nrDNA ITS sequence. Pathogenicity studies carried out with this rust accession under quarantine conditions in the UK showed that the fungus was highly virulent on A. artemisiifolia plants from Australia. Recently, P. xanthii has been proposed as a potential classical biological control agent (CBCA) for common ragweed in its invasive range, focusing on Europe, despite previous doubts about its biocontrol potential. The results of the pathogenicity tests reported here support the suitability of this pathogen as a CBCA for common ragweed.

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Acknowledgments

We thank W. A. (Bill) Palmer (Queensland Department of Lands) for sending herbarium material of the North American rust. We acknowledge the support of the EU COST Action FA1203 ‘Sustainable management of Ambrosia artemisiifolia in Europe (SMARTER)’.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA-ATK), P.O. Box 102, Budapest, H-1525, Hungary

    Edit Kassai-Jáger & Levente Kiss

  2. Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Epidemiology, Semmelweis University, Vas u. 17, Budapest, H-1088, Hungary

    Edit Kassai-Jáger

  3. CABI Europe-UK, Bakeham Lane, Egham, Surrey, TW20 9TY, UK

    Marion K. Seier & Harry C. Evans

Authors
  1. Edit Kassai-Jáger
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  2. Marion K. Seier
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  3. Harry C. Evans
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  4. Levente Kiss
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Correspondence to Levente Kiss.

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Kassai-Jáger, E., Seier, M.K., Evans, H.C. et al. Molecular identification and pathogenicity assessment of a rust fungus infecting common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) in its native North American range. Eur J Plant Pathol 145, 81–87 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-015-0815-4

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