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Recent research in Europe has suggested that stem mining insects may be important for vectoring the pathogen Puccinia punctiformis, and largely responsible for its systemic infection in the weed, Cirsium arvense. However, here we present comparative survey data showing that the level of systemic disease is the same in Europe and New Zealand, with and without stem miners, respectively, casting doubt on the idea that these insects are necessary for transmission of the fungus.
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Cripps et al. (2009) studied this question.
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