Atlas Journal of Biology 1 (3): 66-69, 2011 doi: 10.5147/ajb.2011.0060 A tla s Jo ur na l o f Bi ol og y - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl ish in g, L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl ish in g. or g) The Endemic Plant Limonium mucronatum L. (Fil.) Chaz., A New Host for Uromyces limonii (DC.) Lev., 1849 in Morocco Mohammed Khouader, Rachid Benkirane, Amina Ouazzani Touhami, El Houcine Boussalwa, and Allal Douira* Laboratory of Botany, Biotechnology and Plants Protection, University Ibn Tofail, Faculty of Sciences, P. O. Box 33, 14000 Kénitra, Morocco Received: April 5, 2011 / Accepted: June 25, 2011 __________________________________________________ * Corresponding author: douiraallal@hotmail.com Introduction The genus Uromyces, rust cosmopolitan, has 600 species widespread in all regions of the world and on different host plants (Lindquist, 1951; Savulescu, 1953). In Morocco, Uromyces is represented by 91 species (Khouader et al., 2008), whose Uromyces limonii (DC.) Lev., 1849. In Morocco, U. limonii was en- countered on Statice sinuata, between Essaouira and Tamanar (Oued Dbib), at Mohammadia (Oued Mellah) and Settat (Guyot and Malençon, 1963) and L. beaumieranum, L. bonduelii, L. mo- uretii, L. sinuatum, and L. Thouin (locality not specified) (Rieuf, 1970). This species has never been reported before on Limonium mucronatum L. (Phil.) Chaz. endemic of Morocco (Fennane et al., 1999). U. limonii is a heteroxenous parasite whose cycle of develop- ment takes place on two hosts “Statice gmelini and S. Limonium” (Savulescu, 1953). Eciospores are observed on S. gmelini while urediospores and teliospores are found in combination on S. Li- monium (Savulescu, 1953). 66 SHORT COMMUNICATION Abstract Uromyces limonii (DC.) Lev., 1849 was observed for the first time in Morocco to a Moroccan endemic Limonium mucronatum L. (Phil.) Chaz. harvested in coastal rocky cliffs (near Sale). The host species and the pathogen have been identified based on phenotypic traits. Symptoms rated on the host plant were described in this study. Keywords: Morocco, Rust, Limonium mucronatum, Uromyces li- monii. 67 A tla s Jo ur na l o f Bi ol og y - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl ish in g, L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl ish in g. or g) Limonium mucronatum is a plant that lives at the base of cliffs or on small ledges and rocky outcrops in the levels which are greatly influenced by ocean spray and set over the dunes (Gehu and Biondi, 1998; Fennane et al., 1999). It was observed irregularly around Sidi Ifni / Mirleft at the base of the cliffs north of Safi (Gehu and Biondi, 1998). Limonium mucronatum hemicryptophyte species that is found in the Arid, Semi-arid mild, Subhumid, the Saharan Morocco, Anti Atlas, North Atlantic Morocco and Atlantic Morocco Through (Fennane et al., 1999). It is adapted to saline soils and wetlands (Simone, 2000). Materials and Methods Surveys in the coastal cliffs between Rabat and Kenitra al- lowed us to harvest between May and June 2010, a dozen dis- eased plants of L. mucronatum. The host plant was determined on the basis of phenotypic characters (Fennane et al., 1999). Leaf Symptoms are in the form of brown, black or orange pus- tules. The identification of the causative agents responsible for dif- ferent symptoms, was conducted by consulting some determina- tion keys, including those of Savulescu (1953), Hiratsuka (1973), and the descriptions of Saccardo (1888), Lindquist (1951), Cummins and Hiratzuka (1996), and Garcia-Hernandez et al. (2008). The description of symptoms was performed using a hand lens or dissecting microscope to better visualize the pustules ob- served on both sides of the leaves of L. mucronatum. To study the fungus, scraping was performed at pustules developed on leaves of L. mucronatum. Preparations were made to observe, through an optical microscope (X 400), urediospores and mostly teliospores because it is the latter aspect that determines the kind of fungus. Mounting medium is tap water and sometimes is added to the preparation a drop of bleach to the elucidation of the spore wall. Measurements of urediospores, teliospores (at least 50 spores), and pedicel were made by the means of ocular mi- crometer. Results and Discussion L. mucronatum grows among the stones on a rocky cliff to the Nations beach near Bouknadel (near Sale) (Fig.1a). The sub- strate is influenced by ocean spray. Phenotypic Characteristics of the Genus Limonium Radical leaves in rosettes, persistent and non-flowering stem leaves scattered in tiny scales or in small axillary fascicles. In- florescence spikelet base containing one or more flowers each spikelet is bracted by 3 bracts, an external and an average internal sessile spikelets often unilateral and usually arranged in panicles or corymbs. Flowers often bracted. Calyx usually tubu- lar or funnel-shaped, 5 or 10 ribs scarious, brightly colored in some species. Petals free or more or less united at the base. Sta- mens inserted at base of petals. Styles glabrous, free or fused at base. Fruit dehiscent or indehiscent (Fennane et al., 1999). Phenotypic Characteristics of Limonium mucronatum Palm three garlic wing well developed, wavy curly. Bract in- ternal spikelets 6-7 mm long. Mucronate leaves, the basal rather abruptly attenuated into petiole. Panicle corymbose, with unilat- eral spikes. Bract external and internal spikelets broadly hyaline on margins, reddish on the back. The corolla is purple (Fennane et al., 1999). Description of Symptoms and Characteristics of Uromyces limonii Forms of reproduction observed are stages II and III disease. Pustules developed are brown, black or orange, arranged on both sides of the leaves of L. mucronatum (Fig. 1b and Fig. 2a). Two stages of the disease were observed. The telia are ob- served in powder, combined black and brown. Teliospores (25 to 30 μm in length and 23.30 to 26.65 μm in wide) are unicellular, oblong, rarely ovate or ellipsoid, stalked, colored yellow-or- ange to brown. The wall is light brown, smooth and thick (thicker A tla s Jo ur na l o f Bi ol og y - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl ish in g, L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl ish in g. or g) Fig. 1a. Limonium mucronatum L. (Fil.) Chaz. located at the base of a cliff. Plant on the ground. Fig. 1b. Limonium mucronatum L. (Fil.) Chaz. located at the base of a cliff. Plant after harvest. at the top). The pedicel (53.30 microns) is hyaline, thick and long (2 times the length of teliospores) (Fig. 2b). The uredinia are pul- verulent scored, oblong and orange. Urediospores (30.35 μm in diameter) are yellow-orange, warty, ellipsoidal or globular (2C). Aecial phase is absent. The description of these forms of reproduction is that of U. limonii (Savulescu, 1953; Malençon and Guyot, 1963; Garcia-Hernandez et al., 2008). In Morocco, Guyot and Malençon (1963) reported the com- plete absence of aecial phase of U. limonii. Urediospores and teliospores can be encountered on Statice sinuatum. According to Rieuf (1970), U. limonii attack five species of the genus Limo- nium “L. beaumieranum, L. bonduelii, L. mouretii, L. sinuatum, and L. thouin”. Statice mucronata (=Limonium mucronatum), encountered in the bush of Essaouira, the cliffs of Cape Cantin between El Jadida and Safi and Botanical Garden Cherifian the Scientific Institute in Rabat, may be attacked by Uromyces- statice mucro- natae (Malençon, 1936; Guyot and Malençon, 1963). This spe- cies differs from U. limonii by the following characters: • Remarkable predominance of aecial stage, • Uredo stage is very small, • Early onset of Teleuto stage is in contact with aecial groups, • Longer Pedicel (can reach up to 87μm in length). On the world scale, Uromyces limonii was found on several host plants: Armeria sp. and Limonium spp. in Chile (Lindquist, 1951; Garcia-Hernandez et al., 2008), Statice gmelini and Statice limonium to Romania (Savulescu, 1953 ), Statice japonica in Japan (Hiratsuka, 1973), Limonium vulgare and Limonium sp. in the British Isles (Ellis, 1985; Ellis, 1997), L. vulgare to Netherlands (Zadoks, 1988, 1992, 2005), L. vulgare and Statice limonium in Belgium (Mathieu, 1855; Vanderweyen and Fraiture, 2008). Between May and early June 2010, we met for the first time U. limonii on L. mucronatum. Aecial phase was not observed, but the urediospores and teliospores were found in association on leaves of this new host species. 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