Leucotelium cerasi (Bérenger) Tranzschel 1935, novel pathogen for mycobiota in Serbia

Abstract

During the field studies on a strictly protected plant species Eranthis hyemalis (winter aconite) in Serbia, it was noticed that certain individuals were infected by some species of parasitic fungus. According to the structure of spermogonia and aecia, as well as distinctive types of spores recorded in infected leaves of winter aconite, the fungus was determined as Leucotelium cerasi, known as a causative agent of rust in E. hyemalis and Prunus species. Although it was first recorded in Serbia in Prunus spinosa as a host (area of Valjevo in 1935), the appearance of this phytopathogen was recorded in foliar tissue of E. hyemalis at four localities in Eastern Serbia, near Knjaževac (Podvis, Golemi Kamen, and Ploča) and Zaječar (Zmijanac). It was concluded that plants in natural populations of host species were infected to a very high degree, as the number of infected plants reached half of the total number of individuals in all studied populations. Further research is neces­sary to determine to what extent this fungus is threatening the survival of host populations and then implement appropriate protection measures.