OCCURRENCE OF RED RASPBERRY RUST IN SÃO PAULO STATE, BRAZIL

ABSTRACT

A disease of Rubus idaeus (red raspberry), caused by the rust fungus Pucciniastrum americanum, was found for the first time in Brazil on cultivated plants and fruits from near Ibiúna, SP, Brazil in May 2002. P. americanum is a heteroecious, long-cycle rust native from Canada, the United States of America, and perhaps northern Eurasia. In its native areas it produces spermogonia and aecia on the Gymnosperms, Picea spp. ("spruce"). But in much of its geographic range the fungus persists by uredinial propagation. Records in the Arthur Herbarium, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S.A show that. This rust was introduced from the United States of America into Chile between 1975-1980, but officially identified in 1992. Records from The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Fungus Collection show that the rust was also introduced into Colombia in 1993.

KEY WORDS:
Rubus idaeus; Pucciniastrum americanum.