Distribution of the anther-smut pathogen Microbotryum on species of the Caryophyllaceae.

ABSTRACT: *Understanding disease distributions is of fundamental and applied importance, yet few studies benefit from integrating broad sampling with ecological and phylogenetic data. Here, anther-smut disease, caused by the fungus Microbotryum, was assessed using herbarium specimens of Silene and allied genera of the Caryophyllaceae. *A total of 42,000 herbarium specimens were examined, and plant geographical distributions and morphological and life history characteristics were tested as correlates of disease occurrence. Phylogenetic comparative methods were used to determine the association between disease and plant life-span. *Disease was found on 391 herbarium specimens from 114 species and all continents with native Silene. Anther smut occurred exclusively on perennial plants, consistent with t

SUBMITTER: Hood ME 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3487183 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature