Effect of light on in vivo urediniospore germination, lesion development and sporulation of Puccinia hemerocallidis on daylily and Puccinia pelargonii-zonalis on geranium

The presence of rusts of daylily and geranium caused respectively by Puccinia hemerocallidis and P. pelargonii-zonalis can result. in reduced value of these ornamental crops. Experiments were conducted to determine the effects of fluorescent light and sunlight on urediniospore germination, germ tube elongation, lesion development and sporulation of the two fungal pathogens on detached leaves and whole plants. Exposure of dry or hydrated urediniospores of P. hemerocallidis to cool white fluorescent light (600 mu mol s(-1) m(-2)) or to sunlight (950-1910 mu mol s(-1) m(-2)) for 2 h or 4 h significantly reduced germination and germ tube elongation on detached daylily leaves. Germination but not germ tube elongation of hydrated urediniospores of P. pelargonii-zonalis on detached geranium leaves was significantly reduced when exposed to fluorescent light for 2 h or 4 h. A 4 h exposure to either light source significantly reduced lesion development of P. hemerocallidis on detached daylily leaves with fewer lesions developing from hydrated compared to dry urediniospores. Sunlight exposures of 1 h and 2 h of hydrated and dry urediniospores respectively significantly reduced lesion development by either fungus on whole plants. Increasing exposure to fluorescent light negatively affected sporulation of P. hemerocallidis and P. pelargonii-zonalis. Complete suppression of sporulation was not observed for either fungus with up to a 24 h exposure to fluorescent light. Light exposure negatively affected disease development by P. hemerocallidis and P. pelargonii-zonalis. Exposure to high light intensities may affect spread of rust diseases on ornamental plants.