Rostaniha
Year:2004 | Volume:5 | Issue:1|Papers Count:15

In the framework of study on rust fungi of Fabaceae and based on the study of herbarium and newly collected specimens, six Uromyces species are recognized on Medicago spp. and Trifolium spp. from Iran. Among these species, U.fallens is recorded as new member for the Iranian rust flora. U. striatus is recorded as main causal agent of rust on lucerne (Medicago sativa) in Iran. Moreover, U. trifolii-repentis is recorded as main rust species on Trifolium spp. in Iran. The species concept of U. trifolii which, has been used in different senses in previous studies on Iranian rust fungi, is discussed. U. teheranicus which has been recorded as an endemic rust species on Trifolium sp., from Iran is considered as a synonym for U. trifolii-repentis. New host plants and new localities are recorded for recognized rust species in. A key to the identified Uromyces species on Medicago spp. and Trifolium spp. is also given.

In order to identify ecotyps of field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis L.), seeds from eight proviences, including 125 populations were gathered and sent to Weed Research Department of Plant Pests & Diseases Research Institute, Tehran, Iran. These seeds planted in a uniform environment condition in Tehran. On the base of 24 morphological and physiological characteristics of seedling that derived from rhizomes, 21ecotypes recognized. Consistent variation in leaf morphology, floral characteristics and degree of leaf and flower pubescence, when ecotypes grown in uniform conditions were found. Mature blades of the different field bindweed varied in length from 2 to 4.5 cm and in width from 1.2 to 3.I cm. Leaf shape greatly varied among the different field bindweeds (Fig. I). Leaf angle varied from 32 to 69 degree for the different ecotypes. Flower diameter varied from 1.7 to 3.3 cm for the different ecotypes. In majority of ecotypes, stigma lobes raised above the anthers. The ecotypes also differed in their flowering capacity. The earliest flowering ecotype formed flower 50 days before the latest and produced 6 times more flower per plant, which indicated further differences in seed production potential between ecotypes. The variability in growth and reproduction observed between these field bindweed ecotypes may explain the survival and adaptability of a population of this weed as environmental condition and control practices change.

Mutual relationship between endophytic fungi and some gramineuos plants is one of the recently known host-microbe interactions. Endophytic fungi are classified in class Ascomycetes, order Hypocreales, tribe Balansieae and mostly genus Neotyphodium. They are transferred into the progeny via maternal stock and have many beneficial effects to their host plants, such as resistance to pests and diseases, environmental stresses such as pH fluctuation, drought, salinity and grazing because Iran has a wide range of plant genomic resources and is known as one of the origins of gramineous plants, it is necessary to know more about endophytic fungi and their presence by using classical and molecular methods. Twenty isolates of endophytic fungi were obtained from seed and leaf sheaths of Bromus tomentellus, Lolium prenne, Festuca arundinacea and Festuca pratensis. Mycelia of endophytic fungi were observed red or pink in seed and leaf sheath when stained by Rose Bengal. The DNA of endophytic fungi was. extracted by Murry and Thompson method with minor modification. In order to confirm the identity of endophytes, three universal and specific primer e. g. ITS1, ITS4, IS1, IS3, and 11-1, 11-2 were used. All isolates showed a 550-750 bp band with ITS1, ITS4 and eighteen of them showed a 444 bp band with IS1, IS3 primers, which is an indicator of Neotyphodium endophytes. When primers 11-1,11-2 were used, a 1000bp band was not observed in all isolates. Isolates FaSm and FpGon3 that did not shown a 444 bp band, may probably differ from Neotyphodium endophytic fungi.

The following four species Physcomitrium pyriforme (Funariaceae), Bryum alpinum, Pohlia elongata (Bryaceae) and Fabronia pusilla (Fabroniaceae), are reported for the first time from Iran. The specimens were collected from Makhmal-kuh mountain (situated in north of Khorram-abad, Lorestan province). The voucher specimens are preserved in the Az-Zahra University herbarium, Tehran, Iran.

In the framework of study on wood inhabiting Hyphomycetes in Gilan province, Iran, during 2002- 2003 eighteen taxa belonging to different genera were identified as follows: Chloridium botryoideum, Dendlyphiopsis atra, Epieoeeum nigrum, Perieonia minutissima, Perieonia byssoides, Perieonia sp., Phaeoisaria clematidis, Pseudospiropes simplex, Sporidesmium adseendens, Sporidesmium braehypus, Sporidesmium vagum, Sporidesmium leptosporum, Sporidesmium sp., Staehylidium bieolor, Chalara sp., Chromelosporium sp., C01ynespora sp. and Daetylaria sp. Among these taxa, sixteen species viz. C. botryoideum, D. atra, P. byssoides, Perieonia sp., P. clematidis, P. simplex, S. adseendens, S. braehypus, S. vagum, S. leptosporum, Sporidesmium sp. St. hieolor, Chalara sp., Chromelosporium sp., Corynespora sp. and Daetylaria sp., are new to Iran. All identified taxa are described in detail and documented with drawings.

In the present study, six species of Basidiomycetes all belonging to the genus Agaricus are reported for the first time from Iran along with details of macroscopic and microscopic characteristics. Six species are as follows: Agaricus campestris, A. lalage, A. nigrovinosus, A. nivescens, A. purpurellus and A. silvaticus.

In the present study, infra specific taxonomy of Puccinia coronata in Iran was studied. Based on morphological characters only, four P. coronata varieties were recognized in Iran. These are: P. coronata var. coronata, P. c. var. avenae, P. c. var. hordei and P. c. var. golestanica var. novo Descriptions of the four varieties and their host range are provided. Several new hosts for aecial and telial states of P. coronata are also reported here. Moreover, the measurements of aeciospores on several specimens of aecial state of P. coronata (Aecidium rhamni) from Iran and other countries (Table I) revealed that aeciospores range of A. rhamni is larger than literature records (Table 3).