Spore surface morphology of pine stem rusts of Canada as observed under a scanning electron microscope
Two types of surface markings on the aeciospores of five pine stem rusts occurring in Canada were observed under a scanning electron microscope. Spores of four species, Endocronartium harknessii (J. P. Moore) Y. Hiratsuka (= Peridermium harknessii J. P. Moore), Cronartium coleosporioides Arth. (= P. stalactiforme Arth. & Kern), C. comptoniae Arth., and C. ribicola J. C. Fisch., had annulated processes with five to seven layers and each spore had a smooth area. The smooth area was at the same level as the top layer of the processes. Each species could be distinguished by the shape and size of its processes. Spores of Cronartium comandrae Pk. had no smooth areas and had obtuse or cuspidate processes with no annulations. Different ontogenies were apparent for the two types of spore surface markings.