Life cycle of Aecidium klugkistianum on Ligustrum and its new combination, Puccinia klugkistiana

During the survey of rust fungi in Jilin Province, China, we found Ligustrum obtusifolium (Oleaceae) heavily infected with a rust fungus, Aecidium klugkistianum in the Changchun area. The life cycle of A. klugkistianum was elucidated via field observations and inoculation experiments. This rust fungus produces uredinial and telial stages on Cleistogenes hackelii (Gramineae). These stages morphologically belong to Puccinia and are different from other fungi on Cleistogenes in terms of the size of the urediniospores. The new combination, P. klugkistiana is proposed for this rust fungus based on aecial stage name, A. klugkistianum. Its epitype specimen is designated.