Morphology and cytology of aeciospores and aeciospore germ tubes of host-alternating and pine-to-pine races of Cronartium flaccidum in northern Europe

Abstract

Host-alternating and pine-to-pine races of Cronartium flaccidum (Alb. & Schw.) Wint. (Peridermium pint Lév.) on Pinus sylvestris L. from northern Europe can be distinguished by differences in the morphology and cytology of aeciospores and aeciospore germ tubes. In the host alternating race, aeciospores were binucleate and, upon germination, two nuclei migrated into the germ tube. The nuclei remained undivided during migration. Septa were not observed and branching was dichotomous and irregular. Growth of germ tubes was indeterminate.In the pine-to-pine race, aeciospores were mostly binucleate but variable proportions (16% to 28%) were uninucleate. Upon germination nuclear division and septum formation occurred and the germ tubes were transformed into two, three, or four cells, each of which usually contained one nucleus. The germ tubes were straight and seldom exceeded 200 μ in length. One to three branches were observed. Despite the absence of basidiospores, the pine-to-pine race of C. flaccidum (= P. pini) is interpreted as having an endo-type life cycle with or without nuclear fusion and typical meiosis.