Puccinia Coronata - Intra-specific Classification

Intra-specific Classification

Uredinial/telial stages also occur on a wide range of grass species (Poaceae) in the genera Agrostis, Arrhenatherum, Bromus, Calamagrostis, Elymus, Festuca, Glyceria, Holcus, Hordeum, Lolium, Poa and Schedonorus etc.. Recent molecular studies suggest that with high intraspecific genetic variation, Puccinia coronata harbors multiple phylogenetic lineages. Seven phylogenetic species are recognized based on host specificity, morphology and multi-gene phylogenetic analyses, namely P. coronata s.str., P. coronati-agrostidis, P. coronati-brevispora, P. coronati-calamagrostidis, P. coronati-hordei, P. coronati-japonica, and P. coronati-longispora. Puccinia coronata s.str. is further divided into two varieties: P. coronata var. avenae and P. coronata var. coronata. The former is composed of two formae speciales: P. coronata var. avenae f. sp. avenae and P. coronata var. avenae f. sp. graminicola. The crown rust pathogen on oats belongs to P. coronata var. avenae f. sp. avenae.