Susceptibility of Musk Thistle and Related Composites toPuccinia carduorum

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Abstract
Evaluation of the rust fungus P. carduorum for biological control of musk thistle (C. nutans) was initiated with a host range study, the 1st phase in determining the potential and safety of an exotic plant pathogen for use in biological weed control. Representatives of the 13 tribes in the Asteraceae (26 genera and 63 spp) were tested for susceptibility to P. carduorum. Only members of the subtribe Carduineae in the tribe Cynareae were susceptible under greenhouse conditions. Most collections of musk thistle from the USA, Canada and France were highly susceptible. C. thoermeri and Cynara scolymus (globe artichoke) also were susceptible to infection. Pustules occurred on 6 additional species of Carduus, 8 Cirsium spp. and Cynara cardunculus. Seedlings of globe artichoke were much more susceptible to infection than older plants grown from seed or crowns.