Homeopathy in the Rust Severity and Growth of Malva sylvestris L.

The production of medicinal plants which have an association with biotrophic fungi requires non-residual and favorable methods to the host with tolerance to the presence of phytopathogens. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of homeopathic preparations on the rust severity and the growth of Malva sylvestris plants. M. sylvestris seedlings were prepared in 600 ml containers with commercial substrate. The seedlings were arranged in pots at 26 days of age and outlined in two experiments. The treatments consisted of Amonnium carbonicum (Am. carb.), Atropa belladonna (Bell.), Calcarea carbonica (Calc. carb.), Silicea terra (Sil.) and Sulfur (Sulf.), all at 30CH (centesimal Hahnemannian dilution order). The last two dynamizations (29 and 30CH) were prepared in distilled water for all treatments. Control plants were treated with water. Natural inoculation of the plants with Puccinia malvacearum occurred in the first experiment, and the applications of homeopathic preparations were carried out every seven days for five weeks. Four evaluations of rust severity, diameter, height and number of leaves were conducted. Next, M. sylvestris seedlings were transplanted into pots with 5 liters of substrate in the second experiment and the growth curve of the plant was observed in relation to the diameter and height variables. Am. Carb. reduced 18.29% of the rust severity in relation to the control plants. Sil. 30CH contributed to an increase in stem diameter. There was no interference in the plants’ height by homeopathic preparations. The application of homeopathies in M. sylvestris can contribute to their production, reducing the rust intensity considered in the crop cycle and can assist in the plant growth without leaving residues which can harm pollinators and hyperparasites.

Mycopopulation of marshmallow (Althaea officinalis L)

Marshmallow is an important medicinal plant in Serbia. Because of increasing demands on the market, cultivation has been started. Through regular quality control of commercial seeds and plantations, mycopopulation of marshmallow was recorded in the period 2000-2006. Seeds of marshmallow were dominated by Alternaria alternata and species from the genus Fusarium (Fusarium verticillioides, F. proliferatum, F. semitectum, F. oxysporum and F. solani). Species belonging to Fusarium genus are the cause of rot of seeds and roots of marshmallow, causing chlorosis and fading, and therefore deterioration and necrosis of plants, as well as decrease of seed germination of seeds. Leaves and stalks of marshmallow were from time to time under massive attack of Puccinia malvacearum, and that was the reason why leaves were unuseful as a herbal drug. On roots and lower part of the stalks, massive appearance of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, a causal agent of the white rot, in cases when marshmallow was cultivated after sunflower, was recorded, too. From other fungi in roots, species belonging to the genus Fusarium (F. oxysporum, F. solani and F. verticillioides) were dominant.

The cultivation of rust fungi upon artificial media

While the rust fungi have long been regarded as obligate parasites, within recent years nine species belonging to four different genera have been grown in pure culture in the laboratory. Gymnosporangium juniperi-virginianae and Uromyces caladii have been isolated from tissue cultures of their infected hosts. A culture of Puccinia malvacearum originated from a teliospore, promycelium, or basidiospore. Puccinia graminis tritici, P. graminis avenae, P. recondita trilici, P. helianthi, Melampsora lini, and Uromyces dianthi have been isolated from germinating uredospores. Melampsora lini has also been isolated through treatment of infected host tissues with hydrolytic enzymes. Some of the cytological, physiological, and biochemical findings resulting from studies of these pure cultures are discussed.

Ballistospore discharge in Tilletiopsis minor

Ballistospore discharge in Tilletiopsis minor Nyland was studied in a growth chamber under various conditions using a Kramer-Collins Spore Sampler. Sporulation occurred on leaves of Althea naturally infected with Puccinia malvacearum, on inoculated healthy leaves of Althea, and on 11 other hosts. Under alternating dark (12 h, 90–94% relative humidity (RH)) and light (12 h, 80% RH) at 21 °C, sporulation occurred periodically, only when humidity was high. There was no evidence of an endogenous rhythm in continuous light or dark.

Puccinia malvacearum. [Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria].

A description is provided for Puccinia malvacearum. Information is included on the disease caused by the organism, its transmission, geographical distribution, and hosts. HOSTS: On Althaea, Protex, Kitaibelia, Lavatera, Malva, Malvastrum, Malope, Sidalcea and a total of about 50 species in 10 genera of Malvaceae. DISEASE: Rust of hollyhock. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Worldwide. TRANSMISSION: Farlow (1886) reported the introduction of the pathogen into U.S.A. on seed of Malope sp. imported from Europe. However, it is doubtful whether true seed transmission occurs. Taubenhaus (1911) showed that teliospores, overwintering in soil on infected bracts and carpels in late autumn, remain viable for over four months and act as a source of infection of seed in the spring and that mycelium may also overwinter in a viable condition in young host shoots. The importation of the pathogen on plants introduced into New Zealand is recorded by Cunningham (1931: 154).