Cintractia axicola. [Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria].
Abstract A description is provided for Cintractia axicola. Information is included on the disease caused by the organism, its transmission, geographical distribution, and hosts. HOSTS: Fimbristylis species, including F. annua, F. autumnalis, F. complanata, F. dichotoma, F. diphylla, F. exilis, F. globulosa, F. obtusispora, F. squarrulosa, F. tenera and F. thonningiana; occasionally other Cyperaceae. DISEASE: Smut of Fimbristylis. Dikaryotic hyphae ramify intercellularly and intracellularly in the epidermis, cortex, medulla and vascular tissues of infected peduncles and form a white fungal covering; within this covering the fungal stroma with sporogenous pockets develops. Eventually the smut forms conspicuous black spore masses around the peduncles, whilst the spikelets are little altered morphologically. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Widespread in tropical and subtropical regions. Africa: Gabon, Ghana, Mauritius, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe; Asia: Burma, China, India, Indo-China, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan; Australasia and Oceania: Australia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, North America: Mexico, USA; South America: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Uruguay, Venezuela; Central America: Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Panama, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Thomas, St. Vincent, Tobago, Trinidad, Virgin Is. (IMI Distribution Map 626, 1991). TRANSMISSION: Infection occurs in individual inflorescences. Ustilospores (and basidiospores) are disseminated by wind and rain. Ustilospore germination on peduncle surfaces and direct penetration of the epidermis have been observed (48, 3370).