DNA barcode sequencing discovered the aecial host of Puccinia chunjiei

Abstract

The telial stage of Puccinia chunjiei was described in 2012 from a single specimen collected in China (DAOM 240982). This species is the closest relative of P. graminis but differs in telial morphology on their grass hosts and in DNA sequences. As part of a DNA-barcoding project for rust herbarium specimens, collections of the aecial stage of P. graminis on Berberis were processed. For one specimen, BPI 1103856, the ITS sequence matched that of P. chunjiei and the aecial morphology differed from P. graminis. An expanded description of P. chunjiei is presented with photographs of the aecial stages of both species.