Rust Fungi & Pucciniomycotina | Chapter 19 - Introductory Mycology

Описание: Chapter 19 of Introductory Mycology by C.J. Alexopoulos, C.W. Mims, and M. Blackwell explores the rust fungi (order Uredinales, subphylum Pucciniomycotina), one of the most complex and economically significant groups within the Basidiomycota. Rusts are obligate plant parasites that cause devastating diseases in cereals, legumes, trees, and ornamentals. The chapter details their hallmark feature: elaborate life cycles that can involve up to five distinct spore types (spermatia, aeciospores, urediniospores, teliospores, and basidiospores) and frequently require two unrelated host plants to complete development (heteroecious rusts). Examples include Puccinia graminis, the causal agent of wheat stem rust, and Cronartium ribicola, which causes white pine blister rust. Structural adaptations such as uredinia, telia, and aecia are explained alongside spore morphology and dispersal mechanisms. The chapter also highlights the ecological and agricultural impact of rust fungi, from widespread crop losses to the shaping of plant breeding programs for resistance. Historical significance is noted in the study of wheat rust epidemics, which spurred early plant pathology research. Molecular studies have refined rust taxonomy and provided insights into their obligate biotrophic nature, revealing intricate host-pathogen interactions. By examining their complex life cycles, pathogenic strategies, and economic importance, the chapter underscores rust fungi as a defining example of fungal specialization, coevolution, and impact on human food security.



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