The fine structure of two rust fungi, Puccinia helianthi and Melampsora lini

Abstract

The parasitic phase of the uredial stage of rust fungus infection is characterized by the formation of a specialized structure—the haustorium. The haustorial neck contains a band of darkly staining wall material, the length of which is dependent on the fungal species. In older infected tissues a collar sometimes develops at the site of penetration. In such cells, the host plasmalemma appears to double back on itself between the collar and the haustorial neck. The mitochondria of the haustorium contain many plate-like cristae and, less frequently, concentric whorls of membranes. Cytoplasmic microtubules are also observed in both the neck and body of the haustorium. Centriolar plaques are found appressed to the nuclear envelopes in both the hyphae and haustoria. They frequently consist of two amorphous regions which are connected by a rod-shaped, layered structure. The septal pore of the intercellular hyphae contains a plug of electron-transparent material. Surrounding it is a matrix of dense amorphous cytoplasm devoid of organelles which is bordered by a hemispherical array of microbodies containing crystals. Axenic cultures of Melampsora lini mycelium were examined and found to contain similar septal pore regions. These cultures also show some differences from the parasitic hyphae. The septa-associated microbodies in these cells appear to derive from an aggregate of tubular endoplasmic reticulum cisternae. Their mitochondria differ from those of the intercellular hyphae in having more and longer, plate-like cristae and a denser staining matrix. They therefore represent a type intermediate between those of the intercellular hyphae and the haustoria. The pseudoparenchymatous stroma of the axenic cultures contains cells of widely divergent ages. Some are young as determined by their dense cytoplasmic contents and large lobed nuclei. However, others are older, with large vacuoles and many lipid bodies. In some cases they have thick cell walls consisting of many layers.