Systematic Botany & Mycology USDA ARS Research Accomplishments by Laboratory The Systematic Botany & Mycology Laboratory ARS is the U.S. scientific research agency responsible for solving agricultural problems of Fungi on Plants and Plant Products in the national importance. United States. This reference contains records of fungi on plants in the U.S. ARS research develops solutions to a wide range of organized by host and by fungus. problems related to food and agriculture—problems requiring long-term commitment of resources and World Economic Plants: A Standard problems unlikely to have solutions with the quick Reference. 10,000 economic plant species commercial payoff that would convince private including accepted scientific names, industry to do the research. These problems range important synonyms, common names, from protecting crops and livestock from costly pests economic uses and geographical and diseases to improving quality and safety of distribution. agricultural commodities and products, determining the best nutrition for humans from infancy to old age, A new species of Trichoderma. This sustaining natural resources, and ensuring species controls the witches’ broom profitability for producers and processors while disease of chocolate. keeping costs down for consumers. In addition to serving this broad range of customers, ARS provides Plant Sciences Institute Karnal Bunt. A related species from research to support Federal action and regulatory Henry A. Wallace Beltsville Agricultural ryegrass was distinguished allowing agencies. Research Center continued export of U.S wheat. Agricultural Research Service United States Department of Agriculture The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits Chocolate Pathogens. Characterization of Beltsville, Maryland discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of the genetic relatedness of the frosty pod race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all and witches’ broom pathogens of chocolate The mission of the Systematic Botany and Mycology prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities allows for more effective disease control. Laboratory is to increase the knowledge and application who require alternative means for communication of program of the systematics of fungi and vascular plants essential information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To Daylily Rust. Characterization of the to developing new technologies and solving problems in file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Office of Civil sustainable and conventional agriculture. Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence invasive daylily rust pathogen, Puccinia Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (202) 720- hemerocallidis. The Systematic Botany and Mycology Laboratory is the 5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. center of research and service for the systematics of GRIN Taxonomic Databases. Names, distribution, and agriculturally important vascular plants and fungi in the economic uses for over 60,000 species of vascular United States. plants. Systematic Botany and Mycology Laboratory Fungal Databases. Worldwide literature is reviewed The U.S. National Seed Herbarium and the U.S. National Bldg 011A, Rm 304, BARC-West Fungus Collections are maintained and developed as for information and references on distribution, research resources for use by the national and 10300 Baltimore Avenue taxonomy, and biology of plant pathogenic fungi and is international research community. Beltsville, MD 20705-2350 available over the internet. Ph. 301-504-5364 Fax 301-504-5810 Interactive online identification keys to plant- Website: http://www.ars.usda.gov/ba/psi/sbml associated fungi. Keys to species of Trichoderma, Tilletia, Hypomyces, Ravenelia and rusts on legumes Updated March 2006 with images, descriptions and taxonomy. Systematic Botany & Mycology Laboratory Systematics is the study of biological Fungal Research Programs at SBML: Vascular Plant Research at SBML: diversity. It is the science that discovers, describes, and names organisms. Systematics of Phomopsis/Diaporthe Accurate scientific names These fungi cause cankers on crops such as soybeans, are essential for Knowledge of the sunflowers and fruit. The chestnut blight and dogwood communicating about anthracnose fungi are related to this group of fungi. systematics of fungi and economically important plants is essential for plants. Systematics of bunt and smut fungi solving problems in These fungi include the cause of Karnal bunt of wheat, agriculture. an important quarantine pathogen, and bunt fungi associated with turf grass seed. Important Plant Resources at SBML: Researchers at the Systematic Germplasm Resources Information Network Botany and Mycology Systematics of rust fungi Rust fungi can cause serious diseases of agricultural (GRIN) Laboratory (SBML) study the Data available include the scientific names of about systematics of plants important crops such as soybeans and wheat, or ornamental plants such as daylilies. Some have potential for controlling 60,000 species of vascular plants as well as common as genetic resources and fungi invasive weed species. names, distribution records, and economic uses. that are biological control Specialized searches of GRIN data relating to economic agents and plant pathogens. plants, noxious weeds, families and genera, or seed Systematics of the genus Trichoderma associations are possible. Some species is this group, such as T. harzianum, can DNA sequence analysis is used to determine control plant diseases. Another species, T. aggressivum, Legume fruits & seeds identification system. causes a disease of commercial mushrooms. the identity and relationships of fungi. An interactive identification system for all legume fruits and seeds to genus is available via the Internet. This Fungal Information Resources at SBML: system is extremely useful to regulatory officials in preventing the introduction of noxious weeds and to seed analysts for the identification and certification of legume Fungal Databases An outstanding online database of current information seeds. on the systematics of plant pathogenic fungi is Karnal bunt Ryegrass bunt maintained by SBML. Worldwide literature is reviewed U.S. National Seed Herbarium for information and references on distribution, Seed collections housed at the SBML serve as a unique reference resource for the study of agriculturally Microscopic and cultural taxonomy, and biology of plant pathogenic fungi. important plants. features are also used to identify U.S. National Fungus Collections and characterize fungi. Herbarium collections housed at the SBML serve as unique reference resources for the study of Accurate characterization of agriculturally important fungi. Over one million dried plant pathogenic fungi allows fungal specimens are available. plant pathologists to more effectively manage diseases. Systematic Botany & Mycology Laboratory Scientific Staff Dr. Amy Y. Rossman. Dr. David F. Farr. Dr. John H. Wiersema. (301) 504-5364; Bldg 011A, Rm 304 (301) 504-5274; Bldg 011A, Rm 302 (301) 504-9181, Bldg 011A, Rm 330 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Research Leader and Director of the U.S. Research on systematic biology of plant Provides nomenclatural and taxonomic National Fungus Collections. Research on the pathogenic coelomycetes. Develops and information on vascular plants for the USDA systematic biology of plant-associated directs interactive identification systems and Germplasm Resources Information Network. ascomycetes and their asexual states. databases of fungi on plants and specimens in Studies taxonomy of the Nymphaeaceae and the U.S. National Fungus Collections. the genus Nymphaea, the water-lilies. Dr. M. Catherine Aime. APHIS Staff (301) 504-5758; Bldg 011A, Rm 321 Dr. Joseph H. Kirkbride, Jr. [email protected] (301) 504-9447; Bldg 011A, Rm 312 Dr. John M. McKemy. [email protected] (301) 504-5280, Bldg 011A, Rm 331 Research on the systematic biology of rust [email protected] fungi (Uredinales) as plant pathogens and Research on the systematics of Lotus, weed biocontrol agents and fungi causing birdsfoot trefoil, and related legumes as well Identifies fungi of plant quarantine diseases of tropical crops such as chocolate. as Cucumis and related melons and squashes. significance in particular those found on plant Director of the U.S. National Seed Herbarium. materials intercepted at ports of entry. Dr. Lisa A. Castlebury. Dr. Mary E. Palm. (301) 504-5270; Bldg 011A, Rm 318 Dr. Gary J. Samuels. (301) 504-5327, Bldg 011A, Rm 329 [email protected] (301) 504-8279; Bldg 011A, Rm 335 [email protected] [email protected] Research on the systematic biology of Identifies fungi of plant quarantine Ustilaginales (smut and bunt fungi) and Research on the systematic biology of significance in particular those found on plant Diaporthales (canker fungi). Projects focus on Hypocrea and its asexual state Trichoderma materials intercepted at ports of entry. Karnal bunt of wheat, Tilletia indica, and and related fungi used in biological control of Investigates the taxonomy and biology of disease-causing species of Diaporthe/ important agricultural pathogens. plant pathogenic fungi. Phomopsis. .