62081: Co-evolution of gall rusts (Uromycladium tepperianum complex) and Acacia spp. in Australia

Transcription

1 62081: Co-evolution of gall rusts (Uromycladium tepperianum complex) and Acacia spp. in Australia Chanintorn Doungsa-ard PhD Student, The University of Queensland Plant Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre

2 Problem being addressed The identification of unknown rust fungi in Australia is difficult. The last revision and catalogue of Australian rust fungi, Daniel McAlpine (1906). g Knowledge gap is increased further by the retirement of rust specialists. Fast and accurate identification is essential for rust fungi. DNA-based molecular methods for rust ID and classification is at very early stage and does not have widespread application.

3 Problem being addressed Acacia cyclops Acacia melanoxylon Acacia saligna Acacia spp. (Wattle) - dominant plant in Australia e.g. Mulga/Brigalow woodlands - landscaping plant, national floral emblem, woody weed overseas. Pictures of Acacia from worldwidewattle.com Gall rust fungi Uromycladium tepperianum - common on Acacia spp. and other Mimosoideae (Paraserianthes spp.) - taxonomy and population dynamic are poorly understood. Uromycladium tepperianum complex Acacia ligulata Acacia acuminata Acacia leiocalyx Photos by Chanintorn Doungsa-ard

4 Who will use the research? PBCRC Ecologists, Plant Pathologists Plant Biosecurity Scientists Land Managers Understanding role of plant pathogens in shaping ecosystems. Robust fungal classification schemes. New generic diagnostic tools for rust fungi. Improved disease surveillance evaluation of DNA barcodes for identification. Better understanding of risks of using rust fungi for biological control. More accurate selection of potential biocontrol agents.

5 Who will directly benefit from the research? PBCRC Researchers (&Me!!!) Plant Industries Land Managers Training the next generation of scientists. More comprehensive and accurate plant pathogen list for Australia to facilitate market access and trade Sustainable control methods for woody weeds. - Acacia saligna is a weed in South Africa

6 Results so far Photos by Chanintorn Doungsa-ard

7 Results so far Uromycladium falcatarium Uromycladium 1 Uromycladium 2 Uromycladium 3 Uromycladium 4 Uromycladium 5 Phylogram obtained in a ML search of the SSU, ITS, LSU and CO3 loci. Bootstrap support ( 70%) values from 1000 replicates above nodes. Posterior probabilities ( 0.95) obtained in a Bayesian search are shown below nodes.

8 Challenges and issues arising from the research Molecular data can resolve species in Uromycladium tepperianum. Uromycladium tepperianum is a cryptic species complex. Morphology is unreliable to distinguish all but a few species. Host species is an important criterion for deciphering cryptic diversity of U. tepperianum. LSU rdna and ITS are good DNA barcodes for distinguishing rust species. More rapidly evolving markers are needed to investigate intraspecific diversity Two Uromycladium genomes are currently being sequenced for marker discovery.

9 Prospects for success PBCRC New generic diagnostic tools for rust fungi. Publications - Uromycladium falcatarium sp. nov., the cause of gall rust on Paraserianthes falcataria in south-east Asia - Resolution of the Uromycladium tepperianum species complex, a gall rust of Acacia spp. in Australia -Taxonomy and Phylogeny of the genus Uromycladium -Presentation at the Asian Mycological Congress, Beijing, August Presentation at the 10 th International Mycological Congress, Bangkok, August 2014

10 Thank you To - My supervisors: Roger Shivas, Andrew Geering and Alistair McTaggart. - My collaborators: Bruce Maslin, Dean Beasley, YuPei Tan, Satomi Hyashi, Jacqui Battley and Dave Edwards. - My collectors: Angus Carnegie, Jane Ray, Jackie Edwards, Andrew Mitchell. - My sponsors: Thai Government, University of Queensland, and the PBCRC. For more information, please chanintorn.dd@gmail.com; chanintorn.doungsaard@uq.net.au