Lab Practical 6: Basidiomycota: Taxonomy and Pathological Importance

Introduction

One of the most considered developed phylum group is the Basidiomycota among the fungi consisting among the others of the mushroom, toadstools, puffballs and also stinkhorns. The rust and smut fungi are also included in the Basidiomycota although it is considered to be lower within the group. They are considered as plant pathogens that can cause millions of losses to annual crop production. The root disease pathogens that caused serious damages to many shade and other tree crops are also included. There are many mushroom that are edible and that contribute to the food industry. The Basidiomycota produces sexual spores called basidiospores which is usually 4 in number on a structure called the basidium and it may be formed fruiting body called the basidiocarp.

Objective

1.     To identify the type of specimens in under the phylum Basidiomycota under microscope.

2.     To observe the disease cycles of various basidiomycetes.

3.     To observe the type of disease caused by Basidiomycota on live specimens.

Result and Discussion

A.    Plant Disease Specimens

The specimen was examined and recorded the following symptoms:

1.     Horse hair blight, Marasmius equicrinus.

It is a minor problem found on stems of rubber, cocoa and etc. There is a presence of black hair-like rhizomorphs.

2.  White thread blight, Marasmiellus scandens.

Infected stems of plantation crops such as in cocoa and fruit trees crops. There is a white rhizomorph on the stems.

3.Panama disease or banana wilt, Fusarium oxyporum F.sp. Cubense.

The disease can attack young or old banana plant. The symptom can cause wilt on young banana plant. When the stem is cut opne, there is a black and brown colour in the stem.

4.1.     Sooty mould disease, Tripospermum sp. Capnodium sp. Limacinula sp.

The mould disease can cover up the mango leaf and in result prevent the tree to undergo photosynthesis and eventually wilt.

5. “Bintik daun antraknos Mangga”. Colletotricum gloesporioides.

Often found serious disease on mango trees. The younger plants can easily be affected compare to the older trees. Forms spots of brown colour on the fruits.

6.  Narrow brown spot of paddy, Cercospora oryzae.

The symptoms that is found is the presence of narrow brown spots on the paddy leaves.

7.    Citrus scab, Elsinoe fawcetti.

The presence of corky spot on the infected leaves which is looks like shredded and stunted growth.

8. Mouldy rot of rubber, Ceratocystis fimbriata.

Symptoms can be seen on the tapping area where there is spots of notched and the fungi can be seen as greyish white in colour.

9. Bird eye spot of rubber, Helminthosporium hevea.

The symptoms are falling of leaves, round spots near the veins on the leaves.

10. Back mildew, Meliola mangifera.

Presence of black mildew on the leaves with soot fungi on the leaves.

11. Leaf blight of maize/corn, Drechslera maydis.

Symptoms are leaf blight that is infected in maize plant where the blight colour is golden yellow to pale yellow.

12. Powdery mildew of rubber, Oidium heveae.

The leaves easily fall off and the leaves looks like it rolls and has a black tip.

13. “Keratan Basiodiocarps”

14. Brown spot of paddy, Drechslera oryzae.

Symptoms found are brown spots that appears on the leaves and also the panicles of the paddy plant.

15. Blast of paddy/ Rice blast, Pyricularia oryzae.

Consist of spots of molds on the leaves which is brown in colour.

16. False smut of paddy, Ustilaginoidea virens.

The fungi looks like a ball shaped with the spores that is yellow and green panicle. Eventually, the panicle becomes light and breaks when old.

17. Sigatoka disease of banana, Mycosphaerella musicola.

Symptoms are the leaves has lesion which is yellow in colour then turn brown with lines as it grows older.

18. Sheath blight of paddy, Rhizoxtonia solani.

The blight is normally forms spots on the leaves of the paddy plant. The colour to this blight id greyish green.

19. South American Leaf Blight, Microcylus ulei.

There is symptoms of black spots on the leaves and spreads to the edge of the leaves as it grows older.

20. Foot rot, Sclerotium rolsfiii.

The symptoms happens on ground such as in chili, tomato and other Solanaceae family. It can be seen on the bottom stem of the plant where rotting happens.

B. Slides

1. Phoma sp.

2. Botryodiplodia sp.

3. Saccharomyces cerevesiae

4. Collettotrichum gleosporiodes

5. Curvularia sp.

6.  Colletotrichum capsici

7. Cercospora arachidicola

8. Stages in Puccinia graminis caused wheat rust.

Stage 0: Spermogonium and receptive hyphae on barberry leaf.

Stage 1: Aecium and eaciospores on barberry leaf.

Stage 2: Uredium and uredospores on wheat stem/leaves. Stage that shows the rust symptoms.

Stage 3: Telium and teliospores on wheat stems/leaves

The basidiospores are formed in stage 4 on wheat and this subsequently infects barberry.

9. Polyporales

10. Penicillium

11. Rhizoctonia sp.

12. Sclerotium sp.

Based on the observation regarding basidiomycota, we were able to identify the characteristics of each of the organisms. Some of the basidiomycota causes rust and also smut and other symptoms towards certain plant species. We were able to study the symptoms that causes the disease. Lastly, we were also able to know the stages in the Puccinia graminis which causes wheat rust. The wheat rust consist of 4 stages which each stages in different form the other. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, the diseases that is caused by the phylum of basidiomycota can be identified by looking through the symptoms that is visible on the plant. In the live samples, the disease called horse hair blight is caused by Marasmius scandens. The symptoms that can be seen through the live samples are the disease are black and hair-like rhizomorphs which is a minor probelm on stem of rubber, cocoa and so on. Other than that, basidiomycota which causes Puccinia graminis  was also observe in stages which is from stage 0 to stage 3.


Reference

Britannica, T. E. (n.d.). Basidiomycota. Retrieved from Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/science/Basidiomycota

Taylor, T. N. (2015). Learn more about Basidiomycota. Retrieved from ScienceDirect: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/basidiomycota