Dear Colleagues,

Fungi play important roles in the ecosystem, and they are essential associates of many other organisms on the planet. Among fungi, the order Pucciniales in Basidiomycota is one of the most species-rich taxonomic groups, containing phytopathogens that cause significant economic losses of agricultural crops and trees. However, due to their large morphological variations, complicated life cycles, and biotrophic properties, the inventory and distribution of rust fungi in most countries remain poorly understood. Therefore, the investigation of the diversity of rust fungi and their geographic distribution are essential for plant quarantine and disease epidemics surveillance and control.

This Special Issue of the Journal of Fungi will present the latest research and insights from experts on the topic of “Rust Fungi”. This Special Issue brings together a range of articles from leading researchers across the globe and presents recent research that will advance our understanding of the current state and trends in rust systematics, the coevolution of hosts and parasites, flora of Pucciniales worldwide, population genetics, disease epidemics, and various other related topics. It will be invaluable to scholars, students, and practitioners alike, providing them with a wealth of research that advances our understanding of the current state and trends in the field of rust taxonomy, plant quarantine, fungal flora and plant pathology.

Dr. Peng Zhao
Dr. Izumi Okane
Guest Editors

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• Pucciniales
• rust flora
• species delimitation
• life cycle
• phytopathogens
• host parasite coevolution