Rust Fungi

A special issue of Journal of Fungi (ISSN 2309-608X). This special issue belongs to the section "Fungal Evolution, Biodiversity and Systematics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2024 | Viewed by 7272

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
Interests: early detection of fungal phytopathogens; host parasite coevolution; invasive species; molecular phylogeny; plant quarantine fungi; rust systematics

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
Interests: plant pathology; mycology; endophytic fungi; rust fungi; fungal taxonomy; phylogenetics

Special Issue Information

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

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Fungi is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

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

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Other

21 pages, 1908 KiB  
Article
The Diversity and Floristic Analysis of Rust Diseases in the Sanjiangyuan Forest Plants
by Qi Xu and Luchao Bai
J. Fungi 2024, 10(6), 425; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10060425 - 16 Jun 2024
Viewed by 786
Abstract
Between 2020 and 2023, rust fungus specimens were collected from the primary forested regions of the Sanjiangyuan area in Qinghai Province, resulting in over 300 samples. A taxonomic and phylogenetic study of the rust fungi from these forests was conducted using morphological and [...] Read more.
Between 2020 and 2023, rust fungus specimens were collected from the primary forested regions of the Sanjiangyuan area in Qinghai Province, resulting in over 300 samples. A taxonomic and phylogenetic study of the rust fungi from these forests was conducted using morphological and molecular biological techniques. The investigation identified rust fungi from 7 families, 12 genera, 56 species and varieties, including 10 new host records, 1 new record for China, and 2 novel species. The host plants involved belonged to 26 families, 48 genera, and 78 species. Pucciniaceae and Coleosporiaceae were the dominant families, with the genera Puccinia, Melampsora, and Gymnosporangium being prevalent. The rust fungi in the Sanjiangyuan forests showed a biogeographical affinity with the North Temperate Zone. Floristic comparisons revealed a higher similarity with rust fungi from Inner Mongolia, Gansu, and Tibet and a lower similarity with those from Hainan. An analysis of the life forms of rust fungus host plants indicated that herbaceous plants were the most common, followed by shrubs and trees. In different regions of Sanjiangyuan, rust fungi were found as follows: Golog Prefecture with 6 families, 9 genera, and 28 species; Yushu Prefecture with 5 families, 8 genera, and 31 species; Huangnan Prefecture with 5 families, 9 genera, and 26 species; and Hainan Prefecture with 4 families, 5 genera, and 10 species. The families Pucciniaceae, Melampsoraceae, and Coleosporiaceae were common across all four regions. Moreover, the families Rosaceae, Asteraceae, Ranunculaceae, Salicaceae, and Caprifoliaceae were shared among the host plants in these regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rust Fungi)
Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 56176 KiB  
Article
Transcriptome Analysis of Picea crassifolia in Response to Rust Infestation
by Hailan Li and Luchao Bai
J. Fungi 2024, 10(5), 313; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10050313 - 25 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1093
Abstract
This study examines the relationship between needle age and rust resistance in Picea crassifolia, focusing on the needle morphology, including size, shape, and physiological traits. One-year-old spruce needles are more susceptible to rust, while two-year-old needles show effective resistance. Using RNA-seq on [...] Read more.
This study examines the relationship between needle age and rust resistance in Picea crassifolia, focusing on the needle morphology, including size, shape, and physiological traits. One-year-old spruce needles are more susceptible to rust, while two-year-old needles show effective resistance. Using RNA-seq on the Illumina HiSeq500 platform, we analyzed both healthy and diseased one-year-old needles (N and B), as well as healthy one-year-old and two-year-old needles (N and L). We applied a fold change (FC) threshold of ≥2 and a false discovery rate (FDR) of <0.01, alongside GO annotation and KEGG pathway enrichment, to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). In N vs. B, DEGs were significantly enriched in processes such as metabolism, cellular function, catalysis, binding, ribosomal function, plant-pathogen interactions, endoplasmic reticulum protein processing, and signal transduction, revealing a polygenic network regulating the rust response. Similarly, in N vs. L, electron microscopy highlighted morphological differences in the wax layers of needles, with subsequent transcriptome sequencing uncovering genes involved in the development of one-year-old and two-year-old needles. DEGs were primarily found in pathways related to cutin, suberin, wax biosynthesis, fatty acid metabolism, photosynthesis, and phenylalanine synthesis. Two-year-old needles displayed reduced stomatal density, higher lignin content, and a thicker wax layer compared to one-year-old needles. Validation of the RNA-seq data through RT-qPCR on 10 DEGs confirmed the consistency of gene expression trends, enhancing our understanding of Picea crassifolia’s genetic response to rust and supporting future research into its disease resistance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rust Fungi)
Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 4248 KiB  
Article
Time-Course Responses of Apple Leaf Endophytes to the Infection of Gymnosporangium yamadae
by Yunfan Li, Siqi Tao and Yingmei Liang
J. Fungi 2024, 10(2), 128; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10020128 - 3 Feb 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1643
Abstract
Apple rust, caused by Gymnosporangium yamadae, poses a significant challenge to apple production. Prior studies have underscored the pivotal role played by endophytic microbial communities, intimately linked with the host, in influencing plant diseases and their pathogenic outcomes. The objective of this study [...] Read more.
Apple rust, caused by Gymnosporangium yamadae, poses a significant challenge to apple production. Prior studies have underscored the pivotal role played by endophytic microbial communities, intimately linked with the host, in influencing plant diseases and their pathogenic outcomes. The objective of this study is to scrutinize alternations in endophytic microbial communities within apple leaves at different stages of apple rust using high-throughput sequencing technology. The findings revealed a discernible pattern characterized by an initial increase and subsequent decrease in the alpha diversity of microbial communities in diseased leaves. A microbial co-occurrence network analysis revealed that the complexity of the bacterial community in diseased leaves diminished initially and then rebounded during the progression of the disease. Additionally, employing the PICRUSt2 platform, this study provided preliminary insights into the functions of microbial communities at specific disease timepoints. During the spermogonial stage, endophytic bacteria particularly exhibited heightened activity in genetic information processing, metabolism, and environmental information processing pathways. Endophytic fungi also significantly enriched a large number of metabolic pathways during the spermogonial stage and aecial stage, exhibiting abnormally active life activities. These findings establish a foundation for comprehending the role of host endophytes in the interaction between pathogens and hosts. Furthermore, they offer valuable insights for the development and exploitation of plant endophytic resources, thereby contributing to enhanced strategies for managing apple rust. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rust Fungi)
Show Figures

Figure 1

32 pages, 13938 KiB  
Article
Rust Fungi on Medicinal Plants in Guizhou Province with Descriptions of Three New Species
by Qianzhen Wu, Minghui He, Tiezhi Liu, Hongmin Hu, Lili Liu, Peng Zhao and Qirui Li
J. Fungi 2023, 9(9), 953; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof9090953 - 21 Sep 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2175 | Correction
Abstract
During the research on rust fungi in medicinal plants of Guizhou Province, China, a total of 9 rust fungal species were introduced, including 3 new species (Hamaspora rubi-alceifolii, Nyssopsora altissima, and Phragmidium cymosum), as well as 6 known species [...] Read more.
During the research on rust fungi in medicinal plants of Guizhou Province, China, a total of 9 rust fungal species were introduced, including 3 new species (Hamaspora rubi-alceifolii, Nyssopsora altissima, and Phragmidium cymosum), as well as 6 known species (Melampsora laricis-populina, Melampsoridium carpini, Neophysopella ampelopsidis, Nyssopsora koelrezidis, P. rosae-roxburghii, P. tormentillae). Notably, N. ampelopsidis and P. tormentillae were discovered for the first time in China, while M. laricis-populina, Me. carpini, and Ny. koelreuteriae were first documented in Guizhou Province. Morphological observation and molecular phylogenetic analyses of these species with similar taxa were compared to confirm their taxonomic identities, and taxonomic descriptions, illustrations and host species of those rust fungi on medicinal plant are provided. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rust Fungi)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Other

Jump to: Research

3 pages, 827 KiB  
Correction
Correction: Wu et al. Rust Fungi on Medicinal Plants in Guizhou Province with Descriptions of Three New Species. J. Fungi 2023, 9, 953
by Qianzhen Wu, Minghui He, Tiezhi Liu, Hongmin Hu, Lili Liu, Peng Zhao and Qirui Li
J. Fungi 2023, 9(11), 1068; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof9111068 - 1 Nov 2023
Viewed by 726
Abstract
Error in Figure [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rust Fungi)
Show Figures

Figure 3

Back to TopTop