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VARIATION IN THE INFECTION OF SILENE DIOICA (L.) CLAIRV. BY USTILAGO VIOLACEA (PERS.) FUCKEL IN NORTH WEST ENGLAND
Author(s) -
LEE J. A.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8137.1981.tb01692.x
Subject(s) - biology , caryophyllaceae , shoot , botany , silene , population , ustilago , fungus , horticulture , demography , biochemistry , sociology , gene
SUMMARY The infection of populations of Silene dioica by Ustilago violacea was studied in four areas of north‐west England. Infection showed wide variation in each area but was not readily related to shade stress from trees or shrubs, nor was percentage infection simply related to shoot density. Infected male shoots predominated early in the season, but later, infection was greater in females. Overall, female plants had a higher percentage of infection than males and, in some populations, over a third of the reproductive capacity was lost. Infection reduced the growth of male plants but produced a large increase in the number of flowers on female plants. The results are discussed in relation to the spread of the disease and to the effects of the fungus on the population dynamics of S. dioica.