Communications Biology (Oct 2021)

Aeciospore ejection in the rust pathogen Puccinia graminis is driven by moisture ingress

  • Vanessa Bueno-Sancho,
  • Elizabeth S. Orton,
  • Morgan Gerrity,
  • Clare M. Lewis,
  • Phoebe Davey,
  • Kim C. Findlay,
  • Elaine Barclay,
  • Phil Robinson,
  • Richard J. Morris,
  • Mark Blyth,
  • Diane G. O. Saunders

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-021-02747-1
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 4, no. 1
pp. 1 – 10

Abstract

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Bueno-Sancho et al. use high-speed videography and mathematical modelling to examine aeciospore dispersal mechanics of the stem rust fungus Puccinia graminis. Their model shows that aeciospore ejection is driven by peridium rupture and moisture ingress, with dispersal projections encapsulated in a web interface to help assess risk of disease spread to nearby cereal crops.