Abstract:
Over the past decade, Puccinia psidii, which causes
rust on species of Myrtaceae, has spread rapidly to new areas
and is now widespread. Quarantine has done little to prevent
its movement through the Americas, the Pacific, Africa,
and in this report, South-East Asia. Puccinia psidii is
reported for the first time from Indonesia on two genera
of Myrtaceae, namely Eucalyptus and Melaleuca. Its
identity was confirmed using morphology, a molecular
barcode comparison to an epitype specimen, and with a
molecular phylogenetic approach. Comparison of seven
microsatellite markers indicates that the rust genotype in
Indonesia and Australia is identical. The potential impacts of
P. psidii in South-East Asia to the natural environment and
plantation forestry are discussed in light of this first report
from the region.
