Veronika Dumalasová

Although transfers and invasions of alien fungi and oomycetes to new environments have ecological and economic impacts comparable to those of plants and animals, their importance has so far been underestimated. Here, we compile accessible records of alien species from these two groups. Extensive research of data across literature, on-line databases, herbaria, and institutional and personal collections has resulted in the first list of alien and cryptogenic fungi and oomycetes for the present-day area of the Czech Republic. A total number of 352 alien taxa recorded in the period 1813–2022 includes 38 archaeomycetes (i.e. species introduced into Europe before 1492), 310 neomycetes, and 4 unranked species. The highest proportion of alien fungi and oomycetes originated from North America, Europe, and temperate Asia. From the taxonomic point of view, ascomycetes represent the highest proportion of alien species, while at the class level, Peronosporomycetes , Dothideomycetes , Leotiomycetes , Pucciniomycetes , Sordariomycetes , and Agaricomycetes are the most frequent. Plant parasites prevail, whereas saprotrophic fungi are less numerous and other ecological groups are rare: six mycorrhizal fungi and two wild animal parasite species have been recorded in the Czech Republic. An assessment of potential risk indicated that numerous species impact (in order of frequency) horticulture, agriculture, and forestry. We identified 56 casually introduced species, 156 naturalised taxa, and 72 invasive species. Significant ecosystem damage may be expected for 36 introduced species, six of which can be classified as transformers. Five species were classified as eradicated. The terminology used in invasive plant and animal biology was adopted, with minor modifications to reflect the specificity of fungi and oomycetes. Natural and geopolitical conditions are discussed and taken into account in the proposed general scheme of invasions of fungi and oomycetes representing an integral part of neobiota and sharing invasion principles and rules with alien macroorganisms.

A spelt diversity panel including 80 genotypes of winter spelt was tested for resistance to common bunt, leaf blotch, powdery mildew, leaf rust, stem rust and yellow rust. The reaction to diseases was investigated in field trials carried out at multiple European locations between 2013 and 2019. Resistance was assessed after artificial inoculation or natural infestation by visual scoring of symptoms. The presence of rust resistance genes was postulated using molecular markers. It was found that the presence of hulls plays a role as a passive resistance factor against common bunt. The risk of fungal diseases in spelt is not negligible. Genotypes with low disease severity in all environments as well as combined resistance to multiple diseases were determined. Across all test environments, spelt genotypes ʻSofia 1ʼ and ʻAlbinʼ showed a very low disease infestation by common bunt, ʻSofia 1ʼ, ʻRiniken Weißkornʼ, ʻZürcher Oberländer Rotkornʼ and ʻToess 5Bʼ by leaf blotch, ʻSpeltvete från Gotlandʼ by yellow rust and ʻSofia 1ʼ by leaf rust and stem rust. The influence of the breeding period was examined, and differences between modern and old varieties/landraces have not been proven. The results obtained can be used for the selection of suitable parental material for breeding spelt with improved disease resistance.

The reaction of twenty-five winter wheat cultivars frequently grown in the Czech Republic to inoculation with Oculimacula yallundae and Oculimacula acuformis was evaluated in small plot trials from 2019 to 2021. The eyespot infection assessment was carried out visually using symptoms on stem bases and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The cultivars were also tested for the presence of the resistance gene Pch1 using the STS marker Xorw1. Statistical differences were found between cultivars and between years. The lowest mean level of eyespot infection (2019–2021) was visually observed in cultivar Annie, which possessed resistance gene Pch1, and in cultivar Julie. Cultivars Turandot and RGT Sacramento were the most susceptible to eyespot. The method qPCR was able to distinguish two eyespot pathogens. O. yallundae was detected in higher concentrations in inoculated plants compared with O. acuformis. The relationship between the eyespot symptoms and the pathogen’s DNA content in plant tissues followed a moderate linear regression only in 2021. The highest eyespot infection rate was in 2020 due to weather conditions suitable for the development of the disease.