Few aerobiological studies have focused on smut spores, teliospores of fungi within the order Ustilaginales, but the scientific literature provides evidence of the potential aerobiological significance of these plant pathogens. The atmosphere in Tulsa, Oklahoma was monitored for the presence of smut teliospores using a Burkard Volumetric Spore Trap. Smut spores were identified in the atmospheri...

Ustilago tritici causes loose smut, which is a seed-borne fungal disease of wheat, and responsible for yield losses up to 40%. Loose smut is a threat to seed production in developing countries where small scale farmers use their own harvest as seed material. The killer protein 4 (KP4) is a virally encoded toxin from Ustilago maydis and inhibits growth of susceptible races of fungi from the Usti...

Three novel mite-associated basidiomycetous species are described in two new anamorph genera as Meira geulakonigii gen. nov., sp. nov. (type CBS 110052(T)=NRRL Y-27483(T)=AS 004(T)), Meira argovae sp. nov. (type CBS 110053(T)=NRRL Y-27482(T)=AS 005(T)) and Acaromyces ingoldii gen. nov., sp. nov. (type CBS 110050(T)=NRRL Y-27484(T)=AS 001(T)). Morphologically, these fungi are similar to the yeas...

The fungal genera Ustilago, Sporisorium and Macalpinomyces represent an unresolved complex. Taxa within the complex often possess characters that occur in more than one genus, creating uncertainty for species placement. Previous studies have indicated that the genera cannot be separated based on morphology alone. Here we chronologically review the history of the Ustilago-Sporisorium-Macalpinomy...

In this contribution to the mycoflora of Karaj, notes are given on 28 species of micromycetes (Peronosporales, Erysiphales, Dothideales, Leotiales, Ustilaginales and mitosporic fungi) mainly collected by the authors in various parts of Karaj area. Six species are new records for Iran viz. Ramularia geranii var. geranii on Geranium pyrenaicum, Septoria gallica on Colchicum robustum, Sphaerotheca...

The genera Ustilago, Sporisorium and Macalpinomyces are a polyphyletic complex of plant pathogenic fungi. The four main morphological characters used to define these genera have been considered homoplasious and not useful for resolving the complex. This study re-evaluates character homology and discusses the use of these characters for defining monophyletic groups recovered from a reconstructed...

Ustilago is a polyphyletic genus of smut fungi found mainly on Poaceae. The development of a taxonomy that reflects phylogeny requires subdivision of Ustilago into smaller monophyletic genera. Several separate systematic analyses have determined that Macalpinomyces mackinlayi, M. tubiformis, Tolyposporella pachycarpa, Ustilago bouriquetii and U. maydis, occupy a unique phylogenetic position wit...