Introduction to Fungi, Third Edition

RHYTISMATACEAE
441
Fig15.8 Infection biology of Tapesia yallundae (a,c,d) and T. acuformis (b). (a) Production of apothecia on overwintered wheat
stubble. (b) SEM of infection plaques on a rye leaf. Runner hyphae (arrows) extend from established plaques onto the surrounding
leaf surface. (c) SEM view of a wheat leaf after removal of an infection plaque. Penetration has occurred at numerous points.
(d) Eyespot lesions at the stem bases of wheat plants. (a) kindly provided by P. S. Dyer. (b) and (c) reprinted from Daniels et al.(1991)
with permission from Elsevier; original images of (b d) kindly provided by J. A. Lucas.
in taxonomic terms are Lophodermium and
Lophodermiella which cause needlecast diseases
of Pinus spp. As with many other fungi, there is
a gradient of interactions within the Rhytismataceae,
ranging from the purely endophytic way
of life (Deckert et al., 2001) through saprotrophy
to severely pathogenic species. Ortiz-García et al.
(2003) have suggested that at least some
pathogenic species have evolved from endophytic
ancestors.
15.4.1 Rhytisma acerinum
Rhytisma acerinum is common on the leaves of
sycamore, Acer pseudoplatanus, forming black
shiny lesions (tar spots) about 1 2 cm wide
(Fig. 15.9). The lesions arise from infections by