The effects of the smut fungus Microbotryum bistortarum on survival and growth of Polygonum viviparum in Svalbard, Norway

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Botany
• Main Authors: Tojo, Motoaki, Nishitani, Satomi
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 2005
• Subjects: Plant Science; Arctic; Svalbard; Norway; Polygonum viviparum
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/b05-125; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/full-xml/10.1139/b05-125; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/b05-125

The effect of the smut fungus Microbotryum bistortarum (de Candolle) K. Vánky on Polygonum viviparum L. was investigated in the High Arctic region, Svalbard, Norway, from 2000 to 2004. Ninety-two plants in a field plot were monitored for disease occurrence, plant survival, and plant growth. The disease, initially identified in 20 plants, only spread to one additional plant in 4 years. Once infected, the plants remained infected. Although a few of the 71 uninfected plants disappeared or died without any apparent signs of disease, the majority remained healthy without smut throughout the study. The percent survival among smut-infected plants was significantly lower than that of healthy plants in 2004 (P < 0.001). The number of bulbils, the number of flowers, and the size of the largest leaves of smut-infected plants were significantly lower than those of healthy plants. These results suggest infection by M. bistortarum can negatively impact populations of P. viviparum in the High Arctic region by lowering plant growth and longevity. Teliospore surface characteristics and germination patterns of the High Arctic specimens of M. bistortarum were also documented.