Abstract
A rust specimen with macroscopic similarities to the cereal stem rusts was collected on Elymus sp. from Gansu province, China. Phylogenetic analyses of ITS and COI DNA sequences indicated the fungus was closely related but distinct as a strongly supported sister taxon to the Puccinia graminis species complex. Microscopic examination revealed diagnostic teliospore characteristics, differentiating it from P. graminis and other morphologically similar rusts. Herein, we designate a name for this new lineage, Puccinia chunjii sp. nov.
Acknowledgments
This study was part of a project (CRTI-040045RD) financially supported by the Canadian Chemical, Biological, Radiological-Nuclear and Explosives (CBRNE) Research and Technology Initiative (CRTI). We are grateful for the help of the following herbaria and persons for generously providing specimens: BP, BPI, BR, DAOM, K, PUR, S, T. Fetch and C-J. Li. We also thank E. McCabe, R. Assabgui and J. Chapados for DNA sequencing technical support; and Drs A.P. Roelfs and J.A. Kolmer for presubmission review of the manuscript.