Abstract
A description is provided for Entyloma ficariae. Information is included on the disease caused by the organism, its transmission, geographical distribution, and hosts. HOSTS: Ranunculus ficaria and other species of Ranunculus; R. acris, R. auricomus, R. bongardii, R. cassubicus, R. eremogenes, R. macounii, R. montanus, R. multifidus, R. nemorosus, R. occidentalis, R. oreophilus, R. pennsylvanicus, R. polyanthemos, R. repens, R. sardous, R. scleratus, R. septentrionalis; there are occasional records for other Ranunculaceae (Anemone, Thalictrum). DISEASE: Leaf spot or white smut of Ranunculus species. Infected plants often show slightly smaller leaves and fewer flowers than uninfected. Although the smut is not systemic, it is common for almost every leaf of a plant to develop spots and for disease to persist within a small area year after year. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Widely distributed in north temperate regions. Asia: Japan, Turkey, USSR; Europe: Austria, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, USSR; North America: Canada, USA (33: 450 & 634; Vanky, 1985). TRANSMISSION: Ustilospores survive in infected plant remains in soil and germinate, chiefly in spring, to infect the new seasons leaves. Conidia are disseminated by wind and rain and contribute to the spread of disease throughout the growing season.