Exobasidium vaccinii var. japonicum

The culture Azalea Nacktbasidie ​​( Exobasidium japonicum ) is a Brandpilzart from the family of Nacktbasidienverwandten ( Exobasidiaceae ). She lives as endoparasite on azaleas (Rhododendron spp.) And infects the leaves. Symptoms of infestation by the culture Azalea Nacktbasidie ​​are red, strongly swollen leaf galls, which are eventually overgrown by mycelium. The species is native to Japan, but was also spread to other parts of the world.

Features

Macroscopic characteristics

The culture Azalea Nacktbasidie ​​with the naked eye at first not to recognize. Initial symptoms of infestation are visible on the leaves: The leaves of infected azaleas form red spots, then up to 3 cm galls on the underside of leaves from. Later the chalk-white mycelium of the fungus breaks through and overgrown the bile.

Microscopic characteristics

The mycelium of the culture Azalea Nacktbasidie ​​grows and forms intercellular Saugfäden that grow in the storage tissues of the host. The four-to fünfsporigen basidia are long, unseptiert and schmalkeulig, the banana-shaped spores hyaline, 12-20 × 3-4.5 microns tall and thin-walled.

Dissemination

The culture Azalea Nacktbasidie ​​was originally described from Japan, the species was, however, deported by the introduction of culture azaleas in other parts of the world, including Europe and North America.

Ecology

The culture Azalea Rhododendron indicum Nacktbasidie ​​attacks and closely related species. The fungus feeds on the present in storage tissues of the plant nutrients, its basidia later break through the stomata on the underside of leaves and set free spores, which are then dispersed by wind. The infection can also be effected by physical contact of leaves.

Swell

• C. Booth: Exobasidium japonicum. In: CMI Descriptions of Pathogenic Fungi and Bacteria 780, 1983.
• German Krieglsteiner J. (eds. ): The Great Mushrooms of Baden-Württemberg. Volume 1: General section. Mushroom Fungi: jelly, bark, sting and pore mushrooms. Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart 2000. ISBN 3-8001-3528-0.

• Nacktbasidien
• Plant disease