21. The fungus readily forms telia on these hosts, which serve as a reservoir of overwintering teliospores . 22. At the terminal end of the hypha, thick-walled, resting spores called teliospores form. 23. Each teliospore undergoes karyogamy ( fusion of nuclei ) and meiosis to form four haploid spores called basidiospores. 24. These teliospores located either in the soil or on the plant, germinate in the presence of water. 25. Teliospores are resistant to harsh weather and stick to the underside of the leaves which helps for overwintering.26. During August and September " Ribes spp . " give rise to teliospores which infect white pines. 27. Prior to the production of the basidium, endospores have also been known to form in the interior of teliospores . 28. Teliospores consist of nuclei undergo karyogamy and thereafter meiosis, giving rise to a four-celled basidium with haploid basidiospores.29. The teliospores in the smutted grain heads disperse to the open flowers of the healthy plants, and the cycle continues. 30. Some hyphal cells give rise to smut sori, bearing teliospores , which emerge through the leaf tissue for wind dispersal.
