A Study of the Fungal Flora (Erysiphales, Ustilaginales, Uredinales) of the Jajroud Protected Area

The obligate phytoparasitic fungi of the orders Uredinales (Rust fungi), Ustilaginales s.lat. (Smut fungi) and Erysiphales (Powdery mildews) were studied floristically in the Jajroude Protected Area. This region is located to the East of Tehran and contains two National Parks within its borders, namely Khojir and Sorkhe-Hessar National Parks. To assess the floristic spectrum, living materials were collected from different sites of the above mentioned area during 2003-2004. Of the 43 identified species 26 belong to Uredinales, 14 belong to Erysiphales and the remaining species (3) belong to the Ustilaginales. Identified species of rust fungi belonged to four genera, viz. Puccinia, Melampsora, Phragmidium and Uromyces. The powdery mildew specimens belonged to the genera Blumeria, Golovinomyces, Erysiphe, Leveillula and Podosphaera. Species of Ustilaginales identified also belonged to Anthracoidea and Ustilago. All 43 species are listed and discussed mainly with respect to their morphology and taxonomy. Golovinomyces riedlianus is newly reported from Iran. The spermogonia, aecial state and aecispores of Phragmidium iranicum are described for the first time. Our study showed that urediniospores of Puccinia melanographa have from 3 to 6 germ pores, either arranged equatorially or irregularly distributed over the spore surface. This character has not been previously described in detail for P. melanographa. Capparis spinosa for Puccinia trabutii (aecial stage); Rubus sanguineus for Phragmidium iranicum; Astragallus floccosus for Uromyces punctatus; Achillea wilhelmsii and Centaurea aucheri, both for Golovinomyces cichoracearum; Cousinia eryngioides and Onobrychis gaubae, both for Leveillula taurica and Euphorbia teheranica for Podosphaera euphorbiae are all reported as new hosts (matrix nova). Moreover, several new hosts for identified fungi are reported in Iran.