Dasyspora gregaria (Kunze) Henn. Hedwigia

Gomes, Gardênia Figueiredo, Sotão, Helen Maria Pontes, Dealmeida, Layse Barreto, França, Isadora Fernandes De & Monteiro, Josiane Santana, 2025, Dasyspora (Pucciniales) on Xylopia in the Amazon, with new distribution records for Brazil, Phytotaxa 697 (1), pp. 68-82 : 71-74

Dasyspora gregaria (Kunze) Henn. Hedwigia 35: 231(1896). Figs. 2 , 8A

Lectotype: SURINAM, on X. cayennensis (det. D. M. Johnson), leg. & exsic. Weigelt 1827, determ. Kunze ( B 70 0014139). Designated by Beenken et al. (2012). Mycobank number: MB 231652 .

Basionym: Puccinia gregaria Kunze , in sched. in Weigelt, Surinam. Exsic. 1827.

= Dasyspora foveolata Berk. & M.A. Curtis, J. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad., N.S. 2: 281 (1853).

= Aecidium foveolatum Schwein. : 281 (1854) [ MB 586739 ].

≡ Sartvellia foveolata (Berk. & M.A. Curtis) Berk. Introduction to Cryptogamic Botany, London: 318, fig. 72 a (1857), illegitimate name.

Spermogonia subepidermal, group VI, type 5. Aecia and uredinia unknown. Telia abaxial on leaves, erumpent, dark brown, densely aggregated in yellowish and bleached spots arranged in concentric circles or scattered (1–7 × 1–5 mm). Paraphyses rare, peripheral, clavate at the tips (26–28 × 2–4 µm). Teliospores 2-celled, ellipsoid (27.5–32.5 × 15–25 µm), septum transverse, lateral wall ornamented with hemispherical warts (1–2 µm), forming a smooth band (3–5 µm in medium focus); apical and basal rod-like projections branched at the tip (3.5–13 × 1–2µm); pedicel fragile, hyaline, usually brittle.

Specimens examined:— BRAZIL. AMAPÁ: Macapá, Parque Zoobotânico , on X. cayennensis , 06 October 1987, J. F. Hennen & Sotão 87-05 ( MG173294 , PUR89746 ) ; 16 June 1994, Sotão et al. ( MG180441 ) ; Serra do Navio , J. F. Hennen & Sotão, 08 January 1990 90-32 ( MG173306 ) ; PARÁ: Floresta Nacional de Caxiuanã , on X. cayennensis , 05 October 2003, Cardoso et al. ( MG171766 ) ; RONDÔNIA: Vilhena, Fazenda Vilhena do Pensamento , on X. aromatica , 27 May 1997, I. S. Miranda & P. J. D. Silva 1532 ( MG159620 ) .

Host and distribution in South America: — On leaves of X. aromatica and X. cayennensis ; Surinam, French Guiana, and Brazil (Amapá, Pará) ( Sotão et al. 2006, Beenken et al. 2012). In this paper, we present a new record for the state of Rondônia.

Comments: The type species, D. gregaria ( Hennings 1896) , has sustained the species complex for many years; however, Beenken et al. (2012) separated it into 11 species, well supported by both molecular and morphological analyses. The phylogenetic proposal by Beenken et al. (2012) supports two clades: D. gregaria , comprising three recognized species ( D. echinata , D. gregaria , and D. segregaria ), and D. winteri , with eight species [ D. amazonica , D. emarginatae Beenken , D. ferrugineae , D. frutescentis Beenken , D. guianensis Beenken , D. mesoamericana Beenken , D. nitidae and D. winteri (Pazschke) Beenken ]. All these species have a known distribution in the tropics of the American continent, with the exception of D. mesoamericana which is restricted to Central America; the other species were cited to occur in South America. Among these, six species were cited for Brazil ( D. amazonica , D. echinata , D. emarginatae , D. frutescentis , D. gregaria , and D. winteri ); among them, D. amazonica and D. gregaria were specifically cited for the Brazilian Amazon ( Beenken et al. 2012, Carvalho Júnior & Hennen 2023).

These species are very similar in their general morphological characteristics, due to the symptoms they cause in the hosts and the morphology of the telia and teliospores, which makes it difficult to separate them. Recognition of the clades is primarily based on the ornamentation of the spore wall (warts) and the arrangement of warts on the lateral wall and in the septum region. In the clade Dasyspora gregaria , the species present hemispherical or conical ornamentations arranged in a more disordered or irregular manner, not distinctly lined in the septum region, while species of the clade Dasyspora winteri present verrucose ornamentation, with polygonal to sub-polygonal and flattened shapes on the lateral wall, forming two distinct rows in the septum region ( Beenken et al. 2012).

The species D. gregaria differs morphologically from the other species of the genus by having a well-differentiated smooth area on the teliospore wall, in the septum region, forming a 3–5 µm thick band, and the ornamentations on the lateral wall are of the hemispherical warty type, with apical and basal projections greater in length (3.5–13 × 1–2 µm) in relation to other species. The similarity of this species with D. segregaria makes it very difficult to separate the two species based on morphology ( Beenken et al. 2012), but in this study, it was observed through OM and SEM that the smooth area in the septum region of D. segregaria is smaller (1–2 µm) than that seen in D. gregaria , a characteristic that can also be observed in the illustrations by Beenken et al. (2012). Beenken et al. (2012) treat these two species as cryptic, and their study provides strong support for this classification. They used only the host plant in their identification key to differentiate D. segregaria ( X. aromatica ) from D. gregaria ( X. cayennensis ). However, in the present study, X. aromatica was also observed to be parasitized by D. gregaria . The geographic distribution of these two host species suggests that this rust may occur from Central America to southern Brazil ( Plants of the World Online 2024). The species D. echinata , included in the same clade as D. gregaria and D. segregaria , has lateral warts of conical shape.

Other genera of Pucciniales have been reported to grow on species of Xylopia in the American continent, such as Aecidium ( A. xylopiae Henn. ), which is found in all regions of Brazil, including the Amazon region (Pará, Tocantins) (Flora e Funga do Brasil, 2024). Cerotelium xylopiae Buriticá & J.F. Hennen has also been reported as growing on Xylopia in this continent ( Hennen et al. 2005), but Beenken (2017) considered the name of this species invalid because there was an error in determining the host, so the currently valid name is C. diospyri Beenken , with reference to the correct host, Diospyros (Ebenaceae) . Other species restricted to countries of the African continent are also known to grow on Xylopia aethiopica A. Rich , namely, Sphenorchidium deightonii (Syd.) Beenken (≡ Aecidium deightonii Syd ), Sphenorchidium xylopiae (J.M. Yen & Sulmont) Beenken (≡ Sphenospora xylopiae J.M. Yen & Sulmont ), and Endophylloides guineensis Vienn-Bourg. (≡ Ceratocoma guineensis (Vienn-Bourg.) Buriticá ( Beenken & Wood 2015, Buriticá 1991, Mycobank 2025).

The genera to which these species belong can be differentiated from Dasyspora by the morphology of the spores since Dasyspora has two-celled pedicellate teliospores with horizontal septa, ornamented walls, with apical and basal appendages branched at the tips and spermogonia of group VI type 5, while Sphenorchidium has two-celled teliospores with vertical septa, smooth walls and spermogonia of group V type 4, the genus Aecidium does not have telia and teliospores, only aecioid aecia with peridium, and Endophylloides has telia of the aecioid type, but without a peridium ( Beenken & Wood 2015).

Dasyspora echinata Beenken & Berndt , in Beenken, Zoller & Berndt, Mycologia 104(3): 672 (2012). Figs. 3 , 8C Holotype: on X. aromatica , 11 December 2003, Brazil, Tocantins, Pedra Branca (Krahô Indian village), F. Freire s/n (HeRB 8486 in ZT

Myc). Mycobank number: 519383.

Spermogonia subepidermal, group VI, type 5. Aecia and uredinia unknown. Telia abaxial on leaves, erumpent, dark brown, densely aggregated in yellowish and bleached spots arranged in concentric circles or scattered (1–2 × 1–2 mm). Paraphyses rare, peripheral, clavate. Teliospores 2-celled, ellipsoid (30–37.5 × 17.5–22.5 µm), septum transverse, lateral wall ornamented with conical warts (1.3–3 µm), apical and basal rod-like projections branched at the tip (1.7–7 × 1–2 µm); pedicel fragile, hyaline, usually brittle.

Specimens examined:— BRAZIL. AMAPÁ: Macapá, Highway Macapá-Porto Grande , on X. sericea , 05 January 1990, J. F. Hennen & Sotão 90-11 ( MG249952 ) ; PARÁ: Melgaço, Floresta Nacional de Caxiuanã , on X. aromatica , 04 June 1998, Sotão et al. 98-129 ( MG171764 ) ; Parauapebas, Serra dos Carajás , Trilha da Lagoa da Mata , N5 , Serra Norte , 03 December 2015, A. S. B. Gil & F. Nóvoa ( MG189130 ) ; Rio Maria , 12 January 2002, M. R. Cordeiro 4883 ( IAN187459 ) ; Santarém, Alto Tapajós, Rio Cururú , 09 February 1974, A. R. William ( IAN147118 ) ; Marabá , 15 September 1973, J. M. Pires s/n ( IAN140312 ) ; MATO GROSSO: Nova Xavantina, Xavantina , on X. aromatica , 10 June 1966, H. S. Irwin, R. Souza, J. W. Grear & R. R. Santos ( IAN123297 ) .

Additional specimens:— BRAZIL. DISTRITO FEDERAL: Brasília, Planaltina , on X. aromatica , 12 March 1966, H. S. Irwin, J. W. Greer, R. Souza & R. R. Santos 13914 ( IAN123199 ) ; GOIÁS: Anápolis , on X. aromatica , 26 September 1965, H. S. Irwin, J. W. Greer & R. Souza 8695 ( IAN122862 ) ; SÃO PAULO: Altinópolis , on X. aromatica , 17 September 1977, H. F. Leitão Filho & F. R. Martins 5932 ( MG60792 ) .

Host and distribution in South America:— On leaves of X. aromatica in Brazil (Goiás, Mato Grosso, Minas Gerais, São Paulo, Tocantins) ( Beenken et al. 2012). In this study, we present the first record of D. echinata for states in the Brazilian Amazon (Amapá and Pará) and Distrito Federal, and report X. sericea from Amapá as a new host for the species.

Comments:— Morphologically, D. echinata differs from other species of Dasyspora by the conical ornamentation of the lateral wall of the teliospores, as mentioned in the comments for D. gregaria ; this is the best and most distinctive characteristic to differentiate D. echinata from other species of the genus. Beenken et al. (2012) mentioned the occurrence of this species only on X. aromatica ; however, in the present study, three species of Dasyspora (belonging to the clade Dasyspora gregaria ) were also found on X. aromatica . Beenken et al. (2012) recorded only D. winteri on the host X. sericea , but in the present study, X. sericea was also parasitized by D. echinata ; the species D. winteri differs from D. echinata mainly by having flattened areolate sub-polygonal warts on the lateral wall of the teliospores, forming two well-defined rows of flattened warts in the septum region.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Dasyspora gregaria. A–B. Telia on Xylopia aromatica. A. Telia in stereomicroscope; B. Telia in SEM. C-D. Teliospores, C. Teliospores in OM; D. Teliospores in SEM. Bars: A = 1 mm, B = 50 µm, C, D = 10 µm.

FIGURE 3. Dasyspora echinata. A–B. Telia on Xylopia aromatica. A. Telia in stereomicroscope; B. Telia in SEM. C. Teliospores in OM; D. Teliospores in SEM. Bars: A= 0.2 mm, B= 50 µm, C= 20 µm, D= 10 µm.

FIGURE 8. Teliospores from specimens of the Dasyspora gregaria clade from the Amazon, observed under OM and SEM. A) D. gregaria (MG 173306), B) D. segregaria (MG 020590), C) D. echinata (MG 171764). Bars: 10µm.