Allodus prostii comb. nov., causal agent of tulip rust

During surveys of the rust fungal flora in Pakistan samples of Puccinia prostii infecting Tulipa clusiana were collected for study. Our phylogenetic and morphological analyses showed that this taxon is congeneric with the genus Allodus. On the basis of these results the new combination, Allodus prostii comb. nov. is proposed and the species is fully described and illustrated. Members of the genus Allodus may now be distinguished from Puccinia species by the lack of a uredinial state, production of conspicuous spines on the teliospores, and autoecious life cycle.