Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #157099
Title: AN INTERACTIVE IDENTIFICATION KEY AND MONOGRAPH OF RAVENELIA (UREDINALES): A MODEL FOR PRESENTING SYSTEMATIC DATA ON THE INTERNET

Author
item HERNANDEZ, JOSE - TUCUMAN, ARGENTINA
item Farr, David
item McCray, Erin

Submitted to: Mycological Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/15/2004
Publication Date: 1/1/2004
Citation: Hernandez, J., Farr, D.F., Mccray, E.B. An interactive identification key and monograph of ravenelia (uredinales): a model for presenting systematic data on the internet. Mycological Research. Vol.108(1)pp.3-4,2004.

Interpretive Summary: Plant pathogenic fungi cause billions of dollars damage to economically important plants around the world. These fungi are extremely diverse and difficult to identify. In order to provide non-specialists with a means of identifying plant pathogenic fungi, an interactive identification tool was developed for use on the Internet. In addition to providing a means of identification, this system can display descriptions and illustrations of the fungi. The genus Ravenelia is an important group of rust fungi that attacks legumes primarily in warm temperate to tropical regions. A monographic account of species in the genus Ravenelia is provided on the Internet using this system. In this monograph 179 species of Ravenelia are described and illustrated. In addition, an interactive key is provided through which species can be identified based on easily recognized characteristics. Plant pathologists, forest pathologists, and extension agents will use this system to identify species of Ravenelia on plants in order to control the diseases caused by these fungi.

Technical Abstract: A monographic treatment with an interactive key to species of Ravenelia worldwide is now available on the web at the USDA/ARS Systematic Botany and Mycology Laboratory (http://nt.ars-grin.gov). This system includes descriptions, illustrations, nomenclators for teleomorph and anamorph names, hosts, and distribution for 179 species of Ravenelia including references to all published species. Ravenelia is the third most speciose genus of rust fungi (Uredinales). Species of Ravenelia are found worldwide predominantly parasitizing members of the Fabaceae (legumes). An interactive key for identification allows users to narrow the number of species to two or three based on host. Descriptive data and illustrations can be presented in a comparative table-like format. A glossary is provided that defines terminology with illustrations of morphological structures. Most of the content for the site resides in a Microsoft Access database through which the user interface is controlled. The systematist can manage all aspects of the presentation.